Psychomotor Retardation as Dominant Issue of the Nursing Care in a Child with Cerebral Palsy – a Case Study

Abstract

Background. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a set of symptoms that have arisen in the most intense period of development of the child - in the prenatal period, during birth or in the first years of life. The main symptoms of cerebral palsy are motor dysfunctions in the form of varying degrees and in different ways localized paralysis the limbs and trunk, mainly concomitant with increased muscle tone, excessive reflexes, involuntary movements such extrapyramidal and movement disorders and balance.
Case study. The case study concerns the year and a half old boy with cerebral palsy (spastic paralysis of four limbs), hospitalized in the Department of Neurology with Unit of Rehabilitation the Provincial Children's Hospital in Bydgoszcz in March 2010. This paper presents the actions of therapeutic-nursing team caused by problems and needs of the child.
Discussion. Treatment of children with cerebral palsy by definition is symptomatic treatment, and its primary purpose is to alleviate the symptoms occurred within the limits of such by damage to the brain and the individual child's potential.
Conclusions. 1 Regular, focused rehabilitation and care provides an opportunity for children with cerebral palsy to function better and to achieve their maximum potential. 2 The task of the therapeutic team members who come into contact with patients with cerebral palsy is to create conditions for optimal development as much as possible and to improve comfort during hospital visits, rehabilitation centers, and every day at home. 3 In order to increase the probability of achieving success reflects the potential of children with cerebral palsy, parents should receive support from the medical staff. (PNN 2013;2(4):172-178)