A Snapshot of 1001 Children Presenting with Cerebral Palsy to a Children's Disability Hospital
B Banskota1, S Shrestha1, T Rajbhandari1
1Hospital and Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children (HRDC), Banepa, Kavre, Nepal.
Insights
Cerebral palsy (CP) in Nepal is often caused by birth complications and infections. Addressing these preventable factors is crucial for improving outcomes in low and middle-income countries.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) remains a significant challenge in low and middle-income countries (LMICs).
- Data on CP prevalence and characteristics in LMICs, such as Nepal, are scarce.
- This study addresses the gap by providing a facility-based overview of CP in Nepal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a facility-based snapshot of cerebral palsy in Nepal.
- To identify the primary causes and demographic characteristics of CP patients in Nepal.
- To highlight disparities and needs in CP care within Nepal.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 1001 patients diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
- Data collected from patients presenting to an institution between December 2008 and December 2011.
- Analysis of etiological factors, patient demographics, and clinical presentation.
Main Results:
- Birth complications and post-natal infections were the leading causes of CP.
- Most children with CP were born at home, presented after typical walking age, and originated from socioeconomically disadvantaged households.
- Spastic diplegia was the most common clinical presentation; post-natal infection-related spasticity showed better ambulatory potential.
Conclusions:
- Etiology of CP in Nepal differs from developed countries, with a higher incidence linked to birth complications and post-natal infections.
- There is an urgent need for interventions targeting preventable causes of CP in Nepal.
- Improving access to healthcare and addressing socioeconomic factors are critical for managing CP in LMICs.
Background:
Cerebral palsy (CP) has largely been an unaddressed problem in low and middle income countries (LMIC's). The purpose of this retrospective study is to provide a facility-based snapshot of CP in Nepal.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review of 1001 patients diagnosed as having cerebral palsy, presenting to our institution from December 2008 to December 2011, was carried out.
Results:
Majority of cases were found to be a result of birth complications and post-natal infections. Most children with CP were born at home, presented after walking age and came from socioeconomically unstable or borderline households. Less than 20% were attending school. Spastic diplegia was the most common presentation. Children with post-natal spasticity secondary to infection seemed to retain greater ambulatory potential.
Conclusions:
In contrast to CP in developed countries, the etiology in LMIC's is largely related to birth-related complications and post-natal infections. There is an urgent need to address preventable causes of cerebral palsy in Nepal.
