Q: My brother, 13 years of age is a cerebral palsy patient I will like to know more about the same. What is the oxygen treatment given in therapy? He also takes tablets i.e. gardenal (phenobarbitone), tegrital (carbamazepine) everyday.

A:Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella name for a collection of disorders of the brain. They are now sometimes called central motor deficit. It is characteristic that they are not progressive disorders. It is thought that they arise from an insult to the developing brain, but the tendency to put them all down to birth asphyxia is no longer considered correct. Some types of cerebral palsy are due to problems in the part of the brain called the cerebrum; these produce spasticity with rigid limbs and increased tone. There are various names for the subgroups affecting different parts of the body; for example, the name hemiplegia is used for signs down one side of the body. Other types of cerebral palsy showed restless involuntary movements. CP is often complicated by epilepsy; it appears that your brother has fits because he is being given drug which are used to prevent them. It is important to involve a multidisciplinary team of professionals in the management of such disorders. They include physiotherapists whose role is to prevent deformities from contractions around the major joints. Occupational therapists and speech and language therapists have important parts to play. Recent advances in management have included relief of muscular spasm by using botulinus toxin. There is not an established role for oxygen therapy. Acupuncture can relieve pain