To study comorbidities in children with cerebral palsy (CP).Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of four months, from December 10, 2019 to March 24, 2020 in 88 children with CP aged 6 months to 15 years without other associated chronic pathologies. All data were collected through parental interviews, medical records and physical examination. To assess motor impairment, Gross Motor Function Classification System score (GMFCS) was used. The association between the etiologies of CP, the types of CP, the level of disability and comorbidities were analysed. Results:The most common morbidity of CP was intellectual impairment in 84 (95.5%), microcephaly in 66 (75%), epilepsy in 61 (69.3%) and nutritional disorders in 48 (54.6%) of which 40 (83.3%) of the patients had stunting, 36 (75%) were underweight, 9 (18.75%) were acutely malnourished and 3 (6.2%) were obese. Digestive disorders were seen in 33 cases of which 31 (93.9%) had constipation, 13 (39.39%) had dysphagia, 6 (18.2%) had gastroesophageal reflux and 22 (66.7%) had oro-facial dyspraxia. Visual impairment was present in 18 cases of which strabismus was present in 10 (55.5%), nystagmus in 6 (33.3%) and blindness in 7 (38.9%) children. Respiratory tract infections were present in 17 (19.3%), urinary tract infections were present in 8 (9%). Orofacial dyspraxia [OR=4.93(95% CI 1.74-13.94)] and nutritional disorders [OR=7.2 (95% CI (2.65-19.57)] were associated with GMFCS V. Intellectual impairment was mild in GMFCS I and severe in GMFCS V (p=0.001). Those with a GMFCS II ] were more likely to have a respiratory infection. Conclusion:Cerebral palsy is associated with higher prevalence of comorbidities. Improved preventive strategy through adequate perinatal care may reduce incidence of CP.
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