Cerebral palsy in Saudi children

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pediatrics
• Public Health

Background:

• Cerebral palsy (CP) is a significant developmental disorder affecting children worldwide.
• Identifying risk factors is crucial for targeted prevention strategies and early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To delineate the clinical characteristics of cerebral palsy in Saudi children aged 1-3 years.
• To determine the associated risk factors for CP within this cohort.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study of 187 Saudi children (1-3 years) diagnosed with CP.
• Data collected included clinical presentation, neurological findings, family history, and perinatal factors.
• Investigations included electroencephalography (EEG) and cranial computerized tomography (CT).

Main Results:

• The primary symptoms observed were inability to walk independently (54%), delayed speech (52%), and seizures (45%).
• Neurological features included motor weakness (85%) and spasticity (60%).
• Identified risk factors included twin pregnancies (25%), low birth weight (34%), preterm deliveries (20%), and birth asphyxia (165 cases).

Conclusions:

• Twin pregnancy, preterm delivery, prolonged labor, low birth weight, and family history of CP were significant risk factors.
• Enhanced maternal and perinatal care is recommended to potentially decrease the incidence of cerebral palsy.