The passing away of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's son who was born with cerebral palsy has put the spotlight on the condition. Despite being the most common motor disability in childhood, misconceptions about it abound. Dr Sheffali Gulati, chief of child neurology division, department of pediatrics at AIIMS, Delhi, helps us understand cerebral palsy and the care people with it need.
Q: What is cerebral palsy?
A: Cerebral refers to the brain and palsy means a complete or partial loss of the ability to move a body part. Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term used to describe a group of conditions that cause abnormalities of movement, posture and feel of the body (tight or loose) with or without accompanying fits, problems in speech, intelligence, vision, and hearing. It results from damage to the developing brain. The damage for faulty development in the brain usually occurs while a baby is developing in the womb. Sometimes it occurs during birth, or shortly after birth.
Q: What is cerebral palsy?
A: Cerebral refers to the brain and palsy means a complete or partial loss of the ability to move a body part. Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term used to describe a group of conditions that cause abnormalities of movement, posture and feel of the body (tight or loose) with or without accompanying fits, problems in speech, intelligence, vision, and hearing. It results from damage to the developing brain. The damage for faulty development in the brain usually occurs while a baby is developing in the womb. Sometimes it occurs during birth, or shortly after birth.