Developmental medicine and child neurology
-
Dev Med Child Neurol · Dec 2011
Behavioural comorbidity in Tanzanian children with epilepsy: a community-based case-control study.
The aim of this study was to define the prevalence of and risk factors for behavioural disorders in children with epilepsy from a rural district of Tanzania by conducting a community-based case-control study. ⋯ Children with epilepsy in a rural area of sub-Saharan Africa have a high prevalence of behavioural disorders and attention problems, both of which are associated with frequent seizures. Providing behaviour assessment and appropriate intervention programmes for children with epilepsy may reduce the burden of behaviour disorders in this setting.
-
Dev Med Child Neurol · Dec 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyModified constraint-induced therapy for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a randomized trial.
Conventional constraint-based therapies are intensive and demanding to implement, particularly for children. Modified forms of constraint-based therapies that are family-centred may be more acceptable and feasible for families of children with cerebral palsy (CP)-but require rigorous evaluation using randomized trials. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of modified constraint-induced therapy compared with intensive occupational therapy on activities of daily living and upper limb outcomes in children with hemiplegic CP. ⋯ Modified constraint-induced therapy is no more effective than intensive occupational therapy for improving completion of activities of daily living or upper limb function in children with hemiplegic CP.
-
Dev Med Child Neurol · Nov 2011
Characteristics of recurrent musculoskeletal pain in children with cerebral palsy aged 8 to 18 years.
The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence, predictors, severity, and impact of recurrent musculoskeletal pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). ⋯ Recurrent musculoskeletal pain is the dominating pain problem in children and adolescents with CP. Monitoring of musculoskeletal pain should be part of the medical follow-up across the whole range of motor impairment.
-
Dev Med Child Neurol · Oct 2011
ReviewUse of intrathecal baclofen therapy in ambulant children and adolescents with spasticity and dystonia of cerebral origin: a systematic review.
Studies on the use of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) for ambulant adults with spasticity and/or dystonia of cerebral origin are scarce, and are even more limited for children and adolescents. This systematic review investigates the use of ITB to improve walking, transfer ability, and gross motor activities in ambulant children and adolescents with spasticity and/or dystonia of cerebral origin. ⋯ Fifteen studies were of levels IV or V evidence and only one of level II according to the evidence levels of the AACPDM guidelines, but all were of low quality. No study was found on the use of ITB in ambulant children or adolescents with dystonia of cerebral origin. Not all studies used objective outcome measures to assess the ambulation, transfer ability, and gross motor activities of the participants. A proportion of participants showed improvement in all these areas but adverse events were common. A proportion of participants compromised their ambulatory and transfer abilities after ITB. There was no evidence to support the clinical use of ITB in ambulant individuals with hypertonicity without further rigorous longitudinal studies.