Be cautious when you hear some child or an adult suffering from meningitis, why because meningitis can result in cerebral palsy. Meningitis causes the swelling and inflammation of the membranes surrounding the spinal cord as well as the brain. Meningitis, viral encephalitis or sepsis can result in the permanent damaging effect on the brain which can lead to cerebral palsy. The inflammation of the meninges most commonly occurs due to viral or bacterial infections. Sepsis, on the other hand, is an inflammatory response that spreads throughout the body due to the infection within the bloodstream that can cause meningitis.
Consider watching this video to know more about what is Meningitis?…
So how meningitis can cause cerebral palsy? It can either cause direct infection of the central nervous system, resulting in inflammation within the brain which is also known as encephalitis or cause septic shock where the blood pressure gets lowered till the critical point along with the blood flow the brain.
Meningitis in newborns often occurs due to the infections in the body of the mother which travels to the baby during the time of birth. These types of maternal infections include chorioamnionitis, Group b streptococci, E-Colli, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus infections or Enterobacter species. Failure to diagnose the maternal infections at the right time can result in neonatal sepsis, brain damage in the newborns, neonatal meningitis, cerebral palsy or other dangerous conditions.
So what is cerebral palsy? It is a group of neurological disorders that affects the brain leading to improper body movement and affects muscle coordination. The condition is usually seen in infants and is commonly present during early childhood when the brain is in the developmental phase. Children suffering from cerebral palsy have weak or stiff muscles which result in awkward muscle movements. The babies suffering from this condition are unable to walk, crawl, roll or sit properly. Cerebral palsy can be mild or severe. In mild conditions, the child can perform the movements on its own but they are unusual movements. However, in severe conditions, the child needs assistance and is unable to walk on his own. He or she might suffer from speech disorders and may need lifelong assistance and healthcare. There are three different forms of cerebral palsy which include:
Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common one. It results in stiff muscles and causes difficulty in movements. This condition can either affect one side of the body, can only affect the legs or spread throughout the body. The severity of the disease depends on the form of spastic cerebral palsy.
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy on the other hand results in uncontrolled body movements which might be slow, fast or appear as jerky movements. This condition can affect the entire body.
Ataxic cerebral palsy affects the coordination, balance along with the depth perception of the patient. This type of cerebral palsy is the least common one.
The common signs and symptoms are seen in all these forms of cerebral palsy include learning difficulties or intellectual issues, seizures, spinal deformities, delayed development and growth, hearing loss or vision loss, speech disorders, long-term illness along with different severe infections. The patient suffers from severe drooling, difficulty in fine movements, walking, lack in coordination, uncontrolled movements and stiff muscles. Cerebral palsy is commonly caused by brain injury or abnormal development of the brain. Meningitis or viral encephalitis is also a common cause of the condition where it results in inflammation of the meninges surrounding the spinal cord and brain that affects the brain functioning in children.
Until Next Time,
Team Doctor ASKY!