Serious diseases equally affect not only adults but also children. Many of them are successfully treated, while others chain a person to bed forever. The latter include Little's disease or syndrome.
Medical certificate
Diplegia is a type of cerebral palsy. It is characterized by a violation of the full functioning of the muscles of the upper and lower extremities. Under cerebral palsy it is customary to understand the pathology of the growth of bones and muscle tissue against the background of damage to the cerebral hemisphere. Such a lesion appears only on one side. With diplegia, damage occurs on both sides. As a rule, the muscles of the lower extremities are affected.
Little's disease is a spastic form of diplegia. She got her name from the name of an English obstetrician. In 1853 he presented a description of this pathology in newborns. It is characterized by the presence of lower spastic paraparesis, which affects mainly the lower extremities. The disease can be pronounced or manifest as mild awkwardness.
Causes and risk factors
Little's disease and cerebral palsy in their etiology have the same causes of development. Pathology is characterized by the following preconditions:
- Hereditary predisposition. Sick parents have little chance of having a he althy child. Therefore, even at the planning stage, it is necessary to undergo an examination and appropriate treatment.
- Ischemia or hypoxia in the fetus. In the first case, we are talking about a violation of blood supply during fetal development, in the second - about oxygen deficiency. Such disorders lead to brain damage.
- Intoxication. Taking strong drugs during pregnancy, smoking or alcohol abuse - all these factors can negatively affect the development of the fetus.
- Infectious damage to the brain and musculoskeletal system. Infection of a newborn with an infection, which often occurs in utero, leads to the development of such ailments as meningitis, encephalitis. The body of the child is not yet sufficiently formed to fight diseases. Therefore, they often lead to complications.
- Physical impact. Exposure to radiation is one of the causes of cerebral palsy in children.
- Mechanical factors. We are talking about birth trauma or mechanical damage immediately after the birth of the baby.
Little's disease is predominantly diagnosed in children in their first year of life.
Clinical picture
Spastic tetraparesis withpredominantly in the lower extremities. Muscular hypertonicity, which helps to keep the legs in a bent and brought to the body state, is characteristic of the life of the fetus inside the womb. After birth, it gradually weakens and finally disappears by 4-6 months. In Little's disease, hypertonicity does not disappear over time. Its severe forms are noticeable from birth. For example, during swaddling, the child is passive. All attempts to bend or straighten the limbs end with strong resistance due to muscle tone. With a mild form of pathology, the development of the child in the first 6 months is normal.
Hypertonicity is most pronounced in the flexor muscles of the feet and adductor muscles of the thigh. This disease is characterized by a delay in the development of the motor sphere. Children begin to fully walk only by 3-4 years. At the same time, their knees rub against each other. Babies walk mostly on their toes, with their legs extended.
Pathology of the cranial nerves is represented by strabismus, hearing loss, smoothing of the nasolabial folds. Dysarthria, hoarseness, and swallowing disorders are also possible. Little's disease is characterized by the following intellectual disorders: delayed speech development, oligophrenia. The latter disorder occurs in 20-25% of patients, but in its severity does not go beyond the stage of debility.
Diagnostic Methods
A pediatric neurologist is engaged in the detection and subsequent treatment of Little's pathology. In the course of diagnosis, much attention is paid to the anamnesis of a small patient, the coursepregnancy. Additionally, a comprehensive examination may be required. It consists of the following activities:
- Examination by an ophthalmologist, otolaryngologist to identify associated he alth problems.
- Electroencephalography. Allows you to evaluate the bioelectrical activity of the brain.
- Neurosonography. The technique allows to exclude congenital anomalies of the brain, cysts, tumors and hydrocephalus. Conducted by means of an ultrasound machine through an open fontanelle.
- MRI of the brain. Recommended as an alternative to neurosonography and for patients with closed fontanel.
As part of the differential diagnosis, consultation with a geneticist, biochemistry of blood and urine is often required.
Features of therapy
It is not possible to completely cure Little's disease. Therapy for this disease is aimed at mitigating muscle damage and preparing the child for adaptation in society. Drug treatment includes taking drugs from the following groups:
- Vascular drugs ("Cinnarizine") to improve blood circulation and tissue nutrition.
- Miorelaxants ("Baclofen") - help stop muscle spasticity.
- Neurometabolites ("Glycine", "Thiamin") - provide the substances necessary for the full functioning of the central nervous system.
- Nootropics ("Piracetam") - activate cognitive functions.
Rehabilitation therapy consists of:
- Massage. Regular treatments help improve blood circulation in the affected muscles.
- Therapeutic exercise. Initiallyexercise is carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Then they can be made at home with parents. The exercise therapy course includes passive and active movements, classes on special simulators.
- Correction of speech disorders. Speech therapy recommended.
- Swimming. Water exercises are performed according to a special technique designed for children with special needs.
Forecast and prevention
In the absence of timely and high-quality treatment for Little's disease, the prognosis is unfavorable. Only 20% of patients can walk independently, and half of the patients are forced to use improvised means in the form of crutches and special supports. The rest remain bedridden for life. With timely treatment, it is possible to achieve the adaptation of the child in society.
As for the issue of prevention, it comes down to following the doctor's recommendations during pregnancy. For example, it is necessary to give up addictions, avoid the use of potent drugs. After the birth of a child, it is important for him to provide quality care.
