What is the difference between developmental delay and cerebral palsy?

Developmental delay and cerebral palsy are often confused by patients' families. In fact, developmental delay and cerebral palsy in children are not the same disease. In fact, cerebral palsy is different from many diseases. Today I will tell you what are the differences between developmental delay and cerebral palsy?

Cerebral palsy in children is different from mental retardation in that they often have delayed motor development, uncoordinated movements, abnormal primitive reflexes, righting reactions and balance reactions. They are easily misdiagnosed as cerebral palsy in early infancy, but their symptoms of mental retardation are more prominent, their muscle tone is basically normal, and there are no posture abnormalities.

There are differences between the symptoms of cerebral palsy and motor delay in children. The motor development of some children is slightly behind that of normal children of the same age, especially premature children. However, it is not accompanied by abnormal muscle tone and postural reflexes, abnormal movement patterns, or other abnormal reflexes of the nervous system. The symptoms of delayed motor development may disappear in a short period of time as the child grows older and focuses on sports training.

Cerebral palsy in children is different from congenital myasthenia. Some children have obvious hypotonia, muscle weakness, and low or absent deep tendon reflexes after birth. Usually prone to respiratory tract infections. This disease is sometimes misdiagnosed as hypotonic cerebral palsy, but tendon reflexes can usually be elicited in the latter.

Cerebral palsy in children is different from progressive spinal muscular atrophy. The disease begins in infancy and symptoms appear after 3 to 6 months. A small number of patients have abnormalities after birth, manifested as symmetrical weakness of the upper and lower limbs, progressive muscle weakness, obvious muscle atrophy, decreased or absent tendon reflexes, and repeated respiratory tract infections due to respiratory muscle insufficiency. Children have a low cry and a weak cough. Muscle biopsy can help confirm the diagnosis. The disease is not accompanied by mental retardation, facial expressions are alert, and eye movements are flexible.