Children whose mothers were ill during the pregnancy or did not receive adequate nutrition are also more likely to develop the disease. Diagnosis
Spastic quadriplegia can be diagnosed as early as age one after a noticed delay in development, particularly a delay in rolling, crawling, sitting, or walking. However, depending on the severity, signs may not show up until the age of three. Muscle tone is sometimes used to make the diagnosis for spastic quadriplegia as affected children often appear to be either too stiff or too floppy.Another important diagnostic factor is the persistence of primitive reflexes past the age at which they should have disappeared (6–12 months of age). These reflexes include the rooting reflex, the sucking reflex, and the Moro reflex, among others.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a computed tomography scan (CT scan) may be used to locate the cause of the symptoms. Ultrasound may be used for the same function in premature babies.Because cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders, it is important to have a clear and systematic naming system. These disorders must be non-progressive, non-transient, and not due to injury to the spinal cord. Disorders within the group are classified based on two characteristics- the main physiological symptom, and the limbs that are affected.
This causes the affected portion of the colon to be unable to contract and relax to help push out a bowel movement. The affected portion of the colon remains contracted, making it difficult for stool to pass through. Concern for HD should be raised in a child who has not passed stool during the first 48 hours of life. Milder forms of HD, in which only a small portion of the colon is affected, can present later in childhood as constipation, abdominal pain, and bloating. Similar disorders to HD include anal achalasia and hypoganglionosis. In hypoganglionosis, there is a low number of neural crest cells, so the colon remains contracted. In anal achalasia, the internal anal sphincter remains contracted, making it difficult for stool to pass. However, there is a normal number of neural crest cells present.There are also congenital structural anomalies that can lead to constipation, including anterior displacement of the anus, imperforate anus, strictures, and small left colon syndrome. Anterior displacement of the anus can be diagnosed on physical exam. The disease causes constipation because the inappropriate positioning of the anus which make it difficult to pass a bowel movement. Imperforate anus is an anus that ends in a blind pouch and does not connect to the rest of the persons intestines. Small left colon syndrome is a rare disease in which the left side of the babies colon has a small diameter, which makes it difficult for stool to pass.