INCIDENCE OF CONSANGUINITY IN INDIAN CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY: A SURVEY STUDY

Abstract

Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive neurodevelopmental disorder. Cerebral palsy is 2.5 times higher in consanguineous marriage due to autosomal recessive transmission. In India, the estimated incidence is 3 per 1000 live births. The objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence of consanguinity in children with cerebral palsy and measures taken to create awareness. A survey study in the form of semi structured interview was conducted by eliciting the history from the parents of 50 cerebral palsy children in Hassan, Bangalore and Udupi within the period of 3 months using pretested questionnaires, where cerebral palsy patient’s cases were taken and symptoms, age of their parents, presence of consanguinity and its degree were noted and compared with other neurological and genetic conditions to exclude them. Thus obtained results were tabulated and analysis is done by statistical method. It was found that, the incidence rate of consanguinity in children with Cerebral palsy is 18%. And 22% of cases presented with dysmorphism, which suggests multiple genetic factors in the form of autosomal recessive gene mutation contributing for Cerebral palsy. Findings suggests that the incidence rate of consanguinity in children with Cerebral palsy is 18% those children also presented with dysmorphism, so when these two are taken into consideration we can conclude that consanguinity as a risk factor for cerebral palsy.