Cerebral palsy is a condition that can be managed and treated depending on its severity. In this article, we compare treatment in Nigeria to that in the UK
Cerebral Palsy is a medical condition resulting in disorders of movement, usually down to an injury to the brain. It’s often caused by issues around the birth or by a severe infection.
Cerebral Palsy affects around 17 million people worldwide and a number of treatments are available which aim to improve independence in victims and relieve the burden of care assistants and family members.
A Cerebral Palsy solicitor will receive a number of claims every year from parents looking for compensation in order to pay for their child’s care and treatment. In this article we’ll be looking at how Cerebral Palsy treatment in Nigeria compares to the UK.
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a neurological condition which affects movement and motor functions. Caused by brain development problems either in the womb, during birth or shortly after birth, CP varies widely in its severity.
Some CP sufferers will experience very mild symptoms such as a lack of coordination or poor eyesight, whereas others will have much more severe disabilities leading to a lack of independence and a need for lifelong care.
While Cerebral Palsy presents some serious challenges to sufferers and their families, the condition does not usually deteriorate, and most children born with CP will live well into adulthood.
Although there is no significant deterioration in brain activity, the condition can put pressure on the body which can lead to physical problems later in life. Common symptoms of Cerebral Palsy include:
- Fidgeting and jerky movements
- Uncontrolled movements
- Unsteadiness on the feet and frequent falling
- Weak arms and legs
- Vision problems
- Problems with swallowing
- Learning disabilities
While many children born with Cerebral Palsy require full time care, some treatments can help and, in the next section, we’re going to look at the difference between Cerebral Palsy Treatment in the UK and in Nigeria.
Cerebral Palsy treatment in the UK
Surgery
In some instances, doctors in the UK will recommend surgery for those with Cerebral palsy. In severe cases, surgical treatments can help to:
- Correct spinal curvatures (scoliosis)
- Reduce tremors
- Correct foot deformities
- Improve posture
These surgeries are often straightforward and can significantly help with mobility.
Physiotherapy
This kind of treatment involves specialised exercises which are designed to improve mobility and to help the patient to move around independently more easily.
Occupation therapy
Cerebral Palsy poses constant challenges to sufferers during their day to day lives and occupational therapy is often offered in childhood to help sufferers to perform simple tasks for themselves.
Speech therapy
Children with Cerebral Palsy will often experience problems with speech and will usually be offered speech therapy in childhood to help them to better communicate.
Medication
Medicines known as Benzodiazepines (including Valium and Ativan) might sometimes be prescribed to those with Cerebral Palsy as these can help to relax muscles and to therefore prevent seizures and convulsions.
Depending on the severity of the condition, one or more of these treatments may be used to improve the quality of life of a Cerebral Palsy patient.
Cerebral Palsy Treatment in Nigeria
While Cerebral Palsy is thought to be a common condition in Nigeria, there are no official figures available to show just how widespread the condition may be. Common treatments for Cerebral Palsy in Nigeria include:
Physiotherapy
Doctors and specialists introduce a number of exercise routines to children born with Cerebral Palsy in order to assist with movement and mobility.
Trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
During this treatment, a machine applies a mild electrical current to parts of the body in order to stimulate muscles and nerves. While commonly used in Nigeria, this method is not adopted in the UK due to the fact that, over time, it can cause nerve damage to the patient.
Neurodevelopmental therapy
This is a problem-solving approach which involves a medical specialist working with the child to work out the tasks and challenges that they face and to then work on strengthening these weaknesses.
Cerebral Palsy Treatment in UK vs Nigeria
While both the UK and Nigeria favour physiotherapy and occupational therapy, the UK uses medication to manage symptoms, whereas Nigerian hospitals administer electric nerve therapy.
A major difference between the two countries is in abandonment of treatment – in the UK, patients will usually attend every appointment for a long period of time, the majority of patients in Nigeria attend less than five sessions.
A lack of medical professionals and a lack of general education, coupled with poverty, often means that Cerebral Palsy those in Nigeria simply do not have the funds to get to a medical facility in order to receive treatment.
In a country which is also battling drug abuse, CP patients will therefore often be left to their own devices, which means a poor quality of life followed by a premature death.
In the UK, those with CP can receive free healthcare, means that those with the condition will usually lead long and often independent lives.