Cerebral palsy and epilepsy are normally caused by similar events such as birth complications, lack of oxygen to the brain, stroke, severe trauma, and brain infections. Both these conditions also share similar neurological symptoms, such as seizures. However, cerebral palsy and epilepsy are two separate conditions occurring as a result of extensive damage to the brain.
The key difference between cerebral palsy and epilepsy is their characteristics. Cerebral palsy is a condition characterized by problems with posture, manner of walking, muscle tone, and coordination, while epilepsy is a condition characterized by multiple seizures.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Cerebral Palsy
3. What is Epilepsy
4. Similarities – Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy
5. Cerebral Palsy vs Epilepsy in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy
7. FAQ: Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a motor disability. It is caused by damage to the developing brain, which can interrupt the transmission of electrical activity between brain cells. The symptoms of cerebral palsy include delays in reaching development milestones, seeming too stiff or floppy, weak arms and legs, jerky or clumsy movements, uncontrolled movements, walking on tiptoes, swallowing problems, speaking problems, vision problems, and learning disabilities.
Figure 01: Child with Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy can be diagnosed through physical examination, MRI, cranial ultrasound, electroencephalogram (EEG), blood test, urine test, skin test, and vision test. Furthermore, treatment options for cerebral palsy include giving medications such as muscle relaxants, physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and surgery to manage movement or growth problems.
What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a condition that causes frequent seizures due to a damaged brain. Epilepsy can be caused by genetics, mesial temporal sclerosis, head injuries, brain infections, autoimmune disorders, and developmental issues such as birth abnormalities. The symptoms of epilepsy may include seizures, temporary loss of awareness, uncontrolled muscle movements, a blank stare, temporary confusion, changes in hearing, vision, taste, smell, feelings of numbness, problems talking, upset stomach, lip-smacking, chewing motion, rubbing hands, finger motions, fear, dread, anxiety, Deja Vu, fast heart rate, and breathing.
Figure 02: EEG Readings from an Epileptic Patient
Epilepsy can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood work, electroencephalogram (EEG), and brain scans such as MRI. Furthermore, treatment options for epilepsy may include anti-seizure medications, surgical resection, disconnection, stereotactic radiosurgery, or implantation of neuromodulation devices.
Similarities Between Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy
- Cerebral palsy and epilepsy are normally caused by brain damage.
- Both these conditions can co-occur together.
- These conditions may share similar neurological symptoms, such as seizures.
- Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests.
- They can be treated through specific medications and surgeries.
Difference Between Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy
Definition
- Cerebral palsy involves problems with movement and posture.
- Epilepsy involves frequent seizures.
Cause
- Cerebral palsy can be caused by bleeding in the baby’s brain, infection during pregnancy, meningitis, and a serious head injury.
- Epilepsy can be caused by genetic influence, head trauma, factors in the brain, infections like meningitis, injury before birth, and developmental conditions.
Signs and symptoms
- Signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy include delays in motor skill milestones, difficulty walking, variations in muscle tone, spasticity, ataxia, tremors, delays in speech development, excessive drooling, favoring one side of the body, seizures, intellectual disabilities, and blindness.
- Signs and symptoms of dementia include uncontrollable jerking and shaking, losing awareness, becoming stiff, strange sensations like a rising feeling in the tummy, unusual smells or tastes, and a tingling feeling in the arms or legs and collapsing.
Diagnosis
- Cerebral palsy can be diagnosed by physical examination, electroencephalogram (EEG), MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, blood test, skin test and vision test.
- Epilepsy can be diagnosed by physical examination, electroencephalogram (EEG), and brain scans (MRI).
Treatment
- Cerebral palsy is treated through taking medications like muscle relaxants like baclofen, dantrolene, diazepam, tizanidine, orthopedic surgery, speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, counselling, or psychotherapy and social services consultations.
- Epilepsy is treated through taking anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs), surgery to remove a small part of the brain causing seizures, a procedure to put a small electrical device inside the body that controls seizures, and a special diet (ketogenic diet) that can help control seizures.
The following table summarizes the difference between cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
Summary – Cerebral Palsy vs Epilepsy
Cerebral palsy and epilepsy are normally caused by serious damage to the parts of the brain. They often co-occur as a result of extensive damage to the brain. However, cerebral palsy is a condition that is mainly characterized by motor disabilities, while epilepsy is a condition that is mainly characterized by multiple seizures. This is the summary of the difference between cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
FAQ: Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy
1. Why does cerebral palsy happen?
- The causes of cerebral palsy that occur before birth include brain development problems, damage to the white matter of the brain, bleeding in the brain, lack of oxygen to the brain. Meanwhile, causes of cerebral palsy after birth may include brain damage in the first few months or years of life, blood clotting problems, abnormal blood vessels, infections like meningitis or encephalitis, head injury like trauma, and problems with blood flow to the brain due to strokes.
2. What are the main symptoms of cerebral palsy?
- The main symptoms of cerebral palsy include abnormal movements like twisting, jerking, or writhing of the hands, feet, arms, or legs while awake, which worsen during stress. Other symptoms include tremors, an unsteady gait, loss of coordination, and floppy muscles.
3. What are the best treatments for cerebral palsy?
- The best treatments for cerebral palsy include taking medications like muscle relaxants, orthopedic surgery, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy and rehabilitation, recreational therapy, counseling or psychotherapy, and social services consultations.
4. What is the main cause of epilepsy?
- Epilepsy has no identifiable cause in about half of cases. For the other half, potential causes include genetic influences, head trauma, brain conditions like tumors or stroke, infections, prenatal injuries, and developmental conditions such as autism or ADHD.
5. Can epilepsy go away?
- Around 60% of people diagnosed with epilepsy can become seizure-free within a few years with appropriate treatment. Epilepsy can be treated with anti-epileptic drugs such as AEDs, surgery to remove a small part of the brain causing seizures, putting a small electrical device inside the body to control seizures, and taking a special diet (ketogenic diet).
Reference:
1. “Cerebral Palsy: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment.” Cerebral Palsy Guide.
2. “Epilepsy: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Child with Cerebral Palsy in wheelchair” By UCT MOOCs – Own work (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Spike-waves” (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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