Cerebral Palsy: An Overview of Etiology, Types and Comorbidities

Abstract

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most frequent cause of childhood disability. CP occurs in 1 out of every 345 children in the United States. CP is primarily a motor disease that is the result of an insult to the brain that occurs during the prenatal or early postnatal period when the brain is still developing. CP is not a single disease but a physical description of motor impairments that originate from multiple etiologies. This article briefly discusses the etiologies, classification and management of the neurologic medical comorbidities that are associated with CP. Proactive management can assist in minimizing morbidity and maximizing outcomes and improving quality of life.