Cerebral palsy is a debilitating neurological disease of the brain that causes muscles to be weak or stiff. According to MayoClinic.com, two to four of every 1,000 births result in cerebral palsy.
Symptoms
Children with cerebral palsy display a variety of symptoms. Most common symptoms include ataxia (inability to control muscle movements), spasticity (stiff muscles) and problems walking. Drooling, tremors and problems eating or talking are also characteristic of the disease.
Cause
Problems in the brain cause cerebral palsy before birth, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Infections such as chickenpox, illnesses such as meningitis, lack of oxygen, jaundice and stroke can lead to a brain injury and thus cerebral palsy.
Risk Factors
According to MayoClinic.com, risk factors for cerebral palsy include, premature birth, breech birth, low birth weight, multiple birth, toxins and mother's health.
Treatment
There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but many treatments are available. They include medications such as muscle relaxants, surgery, physical, and occupational and speech therapy.
Famous Ties
A famous person suffering from cerebral palsy is Chris Fonseca, a stand-up comedian and comedy writer for fellow comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno.
