Cerebral palsy is a syndrome caused by non-progressive brain damage and developmental defects occurring from conception through infancy, primarily manifesting as motor impairments and postural abnormalities. Generally, after a child develops cerebral palsy, parents need to identify its causes to implement preventive measures. So, what are the causes of cerebral palsy?
Primary causes of cerebral palsy in children include:
1. Maternal factors: Abdominal trauma during pregnancy, threatened miscarriage, antepartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia, placental abruption, placenta previa, placental necrosis, or placental insufficiency. Additionally, certain maternal chronic conditions such as hypertension, hepatitis, diabetes, substance abuse, or drug overdose.
2. Brain injury: Including birth-related brain trauma, neonatal head injury, brain infections, or cerebrovascular accidents.
3. Prematurity and fetal developmental abnormalities: Intrauterine infections, intrauterine growth restriction, congenital malformations; newborns weighing less than 2500 grams face significantly increased risk of cerebral palsy.
4. Certain genetic disorders and neonatal kernicterus.
5. Hypoxia and asphyxia: Including fetal hypoxia/asphyxia in utero, neonatal hypoxia/asphyxia during delivery, respiratory distress syndrome, systemic circulatory failure, and polycythemia.
6. Environmental changes during pregnancy: Embryos developing in the uterus are highly susceptible to external factors—physical, chemical, or biological—particularly within the first 8 weeks, leading to developmental abnormalities and congenital malformations.
Cerebral palsy refers to a syndrome caused by non-progressive brain damage resulting from certain factors before birth, during birth, or in early infancy. Common typical symptoms in children with cerebral palsy include:
1. Feeding difficulties, such as weak sucking, weak or excessive crying, and being easily startled.
2. Children with cerebral palsy often appear excessively quiet with minimal spontaneous movement.
3. Delayed motor development, such as an inability to lift or stabilize the head while lying prone at 3-4 months of age, failure to support weight on forearms by 4 months, standing with toes or overly straight/crossed legs when assisted.
4. Patients frequently exhibit abnormal muscle tone and postures, such as flexed and adducted fingers, tightly clenched fists, internally rotated forearms, or hyperextended head and neck.
5. Abnormal reflexes: Neurological reflexes in cerebral palsy children often manifest as delayed disappearance of primitive reflexes, weakened protective reflexes, or delayed onset of reflexes.
Various treatment methods exist for cerebral palsy. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches, which involve syndrome differentiation and tailored treatment, can yield favorable outcomes. Specific therapies include:
1.Deficiency of Original Qi Syndrome
Symptoms: Weak vitality, blank expression, emaciation with spontaneous sweating, muteness or minimal speech, hearing loss, impaired vision, limb rigidity and disuse, restricted joint flexion/extension, white tongue coating or swollen tongue body, weak and fine pulse.
Treatment Principle: Greatly tonify original qi, unblock meridians and connective tissues.
Formula: Modified Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang.
Primary herbs: Chuanxiong, Red Peony Root, Astragalus Root, Peach Kernel, Angelica Root Tail, Safflower, Earthworm, etc.
2. True Yin Depletion Syndrome
Symptoms: Fatigue and weakness, sore waist and weak legs, forgetfulness and insomnia, irritability and anger, night sweats with dry stools, heat in palms and soles, red tongue with thin coating, thin and rapid pulse.
Treatment Principle: Nourish yin and tonify qi, warm and unblock tendons and meridians.
Formula: Bu Yi Di Huang Wan with modifications.
Treatment Principle: Nourish yin and tonify qi; warm and unblock tendons and vessels.
Formula: Bu Yi Di Huang Wan with modifications.
Primary herbs: Cistanche deserticola, Morinda officinalis, Deer antler, Prepared Rehmannia root, Cuscuta seed, Cinnamon bark, Achyranthes root, Papaya, etc.
3. Blood Stasis Obstructing Collaterals Pattern
Symptoms: Dull complexion, rough skin texture, prominent blue veins, taut tendons and vessels, flexed upper limbs, stiff lower limbs (possibly painful), dark purple tongue with ecchymoses, fine and涩 pulse.
Treatment Principle: Promote blood circulation and resolve stasis; unblock meridians and open orifices.
Formula: Modified Tongqiao Huoxue Decoction.
Primary Herbs: Carthamus tinctorius, Paeonia lactiflora, Prunus persica, Allium fistulosum, Moschus chinense, etc.