A Case of Cerebral Palsy

A case of cerebral palsy

A 3.5 years old girl child was brought to the clinic and one thing we noticed was though she was above three years she couldn’t walk on her own and could barely stand with support. A detailed case history was taken from the parents and relatives.

She was the first child born out of consanguineous marriage. Mother’s age was twenty-one years and father twenty-seven years at the time of conception. Parents were apparently healthy before conceiving and there was no history of any abortions before.

Pregnancy was going on smoothly till the seventh month when mother developed a high fever, following which she developed whole-body oedema and severe hypertension. As mother was in preeclampsia stage an emergency C-section was performed. The child was born with a birth weight of 1 kg and the cry was slightly delayed. She was placed immediately in the incubator. On the third day, she developed convulsions, which again repeated on the tenth day.

She was in an incubator for almost forty-five days after which she was brought home. Her milestones were delayed, neck holding developed around ten months, and she was able to sit with support around two years of age.

Other history included frequent bowel disturbances and upper respiratory tract infections. She was much attached to her mother and her demands have to be fulfilled immediately else she would cry at the top of her voice and cannot be consoled. She needed constant attention from her mother otherwise she uses to feel insecure.

She cannot understand appreciation and has no knowledge of sharing though if her mother instructs her then she gives. She has a habit of teeth grinding both during day time and night, had no obvious fears and would get excited in the company. Physical examination showed low muscle tone with mild spasticity.

 

What is cerebral palsy?

Cerebral Palsy is a neurological condition which affects muscular movements and coordination. The most common cause is damage to the Cerebral part of the brain during, before or after birth. Depending on the extent of the lesion the number of muscles affected varies. As Cerebrum is also involved in learning, emotions and intellect, even speech, communication and IQ are also affected.

 

What are the causes of cerebral palsy?

Low Oxygen supply to the brain is the major cause for cerebral palsy. Infections like toxoplasmosis, rubella, during pregnancy, eclampsia or preeclampsia during pregnancy, birth injuries, inflammatory conditions of the placenta, meningitis, etc. can cause palsy.

 

What are the symptoms of cerebral palsy?

Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy depend on the group of muscles affected but mainly gait is altered, many may have spastic paralysis, speech may be slurred or abnormal, movements may be clumsy, poor control on bowel and bladder; fits, drooling of saliva, poor intellect, and some may have vision and hearing problems too.

 

Homeopathy treatment for cerebral palsy

Homeopathy treatment is aimed at improving child’s development, muscle tone and coordination, and reduces comorbid conditions like seizures and tries to normalize them as far as possible. Medicines are selected based on cause, physical, mental symptoms, likes, dislikes, sleep patterns etc. In the above-described case, a dose of Opium 10 M was given and her anti-epileptic medication dose was slowly tapered and finally stopped in a period of three months. Opium was repeated one more time followed by a dose of Cuprum Sulph 10 M. Over a period of nine months her jerks came down, she could walk more steadily and her understanding improved.

For more information on Cerebral Palsy, click here.