Athetoid cerebral palsy

There are three main types of cerebral palsy, although in some cases the patient may have symptoms of more than one type.

About 10 to 20 percent of those affected have athetoid cerebral palsy, which affects the entire body.It is characterized by fluctuations in the muscle tone and sometimes associated with uncontrolled movements. Athetoid cerebral palsy children often have trouble learning to control their body, to be able to sit and walk properly. Because the muscles of the face and tongue may be affected, these children may also have difficulty sucking, swallowing and speaking.

Topographic classification of cerebral palsy depending on the extent of brain damage. The suffix „plegia” means absence of movement.

  • Quadriplegia: all four limbs are affected.
  • Triplegia: Involvement of the upper and lower extremities
  • Diplegia: Involvement of all four limbs, predominantly in lower extremities
  • Hemiplegia: involvement of one side of the body (hemisphere), and within this the most affected is the upper limb.
  • Double hemiplegia: When there is involvement of all four limbs
  • Paraplegia: They are very uncommon, affecting only the lower limbs
  • Monoplegia: It affects one limb (arm or leg), but these cases are rare.
The main athethoid cerebral palsy features are:

  •   Athetoid involuntary movements: movements are very rare, without a specific purpose and, at times, uncontrollable. They may be slow or rapid. The involuntary movement is enhanced by the excitement, for any kind of insecurity The factors that reduce athetoid cerebral palsy are fatigue, drowsiness, fever, or prone position . Athetoid cerebral palsy may occur in all parts of the body including the face or tongue, but only appears on the hands or feet, joints distal or proximal joints. 
  • Voluntary movements: are possible, but there may be an initial delay before the start of the movement. The involuntary movement may disrupt the volunteer in whole or in part, making it uncoordinated. There is a lack of finer movements, and weakness
  • Hypertonia or hypotonia. There are fluctuations in their tone. The athetoid sometimes are referred to as models of "stress and tension. There are also sudden spasms of flexion or extension
  • Paralysis of the movements of the eyes: They find difficulty to look up