How is the child affected by cerebral palsy?
Parents may become concerned when a child has trouble reaching physical milestones. A child with cerebral palsy may have trouble rolling over, sitting, walking, and crawling. Some children have low muscle tone and appear floppy; others have increased muscle tone, which makes them appear stiff. There are three major types of cerebral palsy. About 70 percent of CP cases are categorized as spastic cerebral palsy, in which muscles are stiff, making movements and walking difficult. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy affects 10 to 20 percent of CP patients. It is characterized by fluctuations in muscle tone. Children with this form of CP may have trouble sitting or swallowing. Ataxic cerebral palsy is the least common form; it affects balance and coordination. A person with this type of CP may walk with an unsteady gait and have difficulty with fine motor tasks.

What are the treatments for cerebral palsy?
While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, with treatment and physical therapy most children can significantly improve over time. Physical therapy often begins soon after diagnosis, helping a child improve motor skills such as sitting and walking. There are drug therapies and surgical procedures for some types of CP. Many children work with a speech therapist to improve their communication skills, and with an occupational therapist to manage the skills of daily living.

Genital and Urinary Tract Defects

What are genital or urinary tract defects?
Birth defects of the genitals or urinary tract can involve the kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra, and male and female genitals. For boys, the genitals include the penis, prostate gland, and testes. For girls, they include the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. Some of the most common defects include renal agenesis, hydronephrosis, hypospadias, and ambiguous genitals.

How common are genital or urinary tract defects?
Abnormalities of the genitals and urinary tract are among the most common of all birth defects, present in as many as one in 10 babies. Some abnormalities are minor and produce no symptoms. Other malformations can be more serious, causing urinary tract infections, pain, or kidney damage. Many urinary tract defects can be diagnosed at birth with an ultrasound. The causes of most urinary and genital birth defects are unknown, but some abnormalities are inherited from parents who either have the disorder or carry the gene for it.