Athetoid cerebral palsy makes up about ten percent of the entire cerebral palsy cases in the world. It is generally caused by damage to the cerebellum or basal ganglia section of the midbrain. The basal ganglia are responsible for maintaining coordinated and smooth movements and posture for the whole body. If this section of the brain is damaged, then of course movement and posture is affected. As in most cases of cerebral palsy, the patient has limited or no control over the muscles of his or her body.

This disorder originates from damage to the basal ganglia in the midbrain region, where specialized structures maintain movements and posture. With athetoid CP, the basal ganglia are damaged and this causes fluctuations in the muscles throughout the entire body. Some researchers attribute this type of damage to increased levels of bilirubin inside the afflicted person, either from infections or blood incompatibility between the mother and her child (called the Rh factor). During times of high stress levels, this type of cerebral palsy can become aggravated, yet will almost completely disappear during sleep.

An athetoid cerebral palsy child demonstrates serious symptoms. They include unmanageable and involuntary slow writhing movements of the limbs, involuntary movements of the face or tongue, the inability to walk or stand without help because of poor muscle tone, difficulty in grasping or holding objects, the inability to feed themselves and perform activities of daily living due to uncoordinated movements, drooling and tongue thrusting, and the inability to speak or swallow food normally.

Treatment for athetoid CP includes prescribing a group of drugs known as anti-cholinergics, which are used to decrease abnormal and unwanted movements. It blocks the effects of acetylcholin, which is what triggers muscle contraction when acting on nerve cells. The other drugs prescribed for use are trihexyphenidyl, benztropine and procyclidine. There are also physical therapies that can be used to help restore certain movements, like swallowing, as well as decrease slurred speech. Advancements in technology enable patients to use athetoid cerebral palsy therapy devices, such as voice synthesizers, to make speech clearer.

Although athetoid CP is a type of cerebral palsy that does not get worse as the person ages, it can be extremely distressing for an individual with normal to high intelligence to live with this condition. Proper treatment addressing both physical and psychological symptoms is crucial. Good quality care and cerebral palsy support is essential in helping the patient deal with their disorder.

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