Cerebral Palsy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cerebral Palsy, including details on symptoms, causes, types. | ||||||||
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Clinical presentation, associated disorders and aetiological moments in Cerebral Palsy: a Dutch population-based study.Wichers MJ, Odding E, Stam HJ, van Nieuwenhuizen O Department of Child Rehabilitation, Leijpark Rehabilitation Centre, Tilburg, The Netherlands. mjwich@knmg.nl PURPOSE: Cerebral Palsy (CP) contains varying clinical presentations, associated disorders and aetiological moments. Quantitative data and trends on these aspects were lacking in The Netherlands. METHOD: Within a population-based study on prevalence, presentation and functioning of Dutch children with CP born in the years 1977-1988, individual history taking, examination and medical file checking was done by experienced clinicians. Clinical subtypes, motor disability, important co-morbidity (mental retardation, visual disability and epilepsy) were recorded, aetiological moments identified if possible. By comparing the four most recent years with the earlier years possible trends were studied. RESULTS: A quarter of children beforehand recorded as CP did not meet inclusion criteria after individual examination. Spastic subtypes accounted for over 90% of all CP cases: bilateral spastic cerebral palsy as a group are the majority although spastic hemiplegia is percentage-wise the largest individual clinical subtype. Epilepsy and mental retardation are common. Clinical patterns and associated disorders remained rather constant comparing earlier to more recent birth years. CONCLUSIONS: An early diagnosis of CP may be challenged. General clinical patterns remained rather constant in following years, as did most studied items. Even if this study revealed a prevalence rise, no aspect stood out as a possible explanation for this prevalence rise. Comparable studies performed elsewhere showed similar findings. Published 15 July 2005 in Disabil Rehabil, 27(10): 583-9.
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