What Ataxic Cerebral Palsy Is
Cerebral palsy has many forms, ataxic cerebral palsy is perhaps the rarest one. According to United Cerebral Palsy, ataxic cerebral palsy only accounts for about five to 10 percent of all cerebral palsy cases. Ataxic cerebral palsy is different from other forms because it causes difficulties with both balance and depth perception. This makes coordination difficult and often causes tremors. Children with ataxic cerebral palsy may have difficulty walking (often with a wide, swaggering gait pattern) or may have trouble reaching for and holding onto items. Fine motor skills, such as fastening snaps or buttons, may also be a challenge.
Cerebral Palsy Causes
Most cases of cerebral palsy trace back to developmental problems in the brain either before birth or shortly thereafter. Some common causes include exposure to certain toxins or diseases during pregnancy, such as cat feces, measles and syphilis. Other causes of cerebral palsy include pregnancy complications such as blood incompatibility, gestational diabetes and urinary tract infections. After birth, cerebral palsy may be caused by a stroke, untreated jaundice or other neurological problems during infancy.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy's Cause
Since ataxic cerebral palsy is rarer than other forms of cerebral palsy, does it have its own particular cause? Possibly. A study in the "European Journal of Human Genetics" reported that up to half of all ataxic cerebral palsy cases can be traced back to an inherited recessive trait. About 50 percent of cases may be genetic. The other 50 percent, however, probably trace back to many of the typical suspected cerebral palsy causes. In particular, any complications that cause abnormalities in brain development can potentially cause the ataxic form of cerebral palsy. These are most common during pregnancy but may occur shortly after birth as well.
Preventing Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
In some cases, ataxic cerebral palsy cannot be prevented because genetics cannot be changed. If the cause is a recessive gene, however, not much can be done to avoid ataxic cerebral palsy. However, genetics only account for about half the ataxic cerebral palsy cases. The other half can be avoided by taking precautions both before and during pregnancy. Pregnant women should treat any potential complications as soon as possible, including high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and infections (both viral and bacterial). They should also avoid handling toxic chemicals or changing the litter box. Regular doctor's visits during pregnancy and prompt treatment can go a long way in preventing many cases of ataxic cerebral palsy before it begins.
