Equipe de Neurosciences Cliniques, Cognitives et Santé, Laboratoire de Biologie et Santé, Faculté des Sciences, Université Ibn Tofaïl, BP. 133, Kenitra, Morocco
Given that nutrition strongly influences the health and physical handicaps is an aggravating factor of the bad protein-energy nutrition, this study aims to assess the nutritional status of children and adolescents suffering from cerebral palsy. This comparative study was conducted on two samples of 132 children and adolescents aged from 2 to 17 years old including 65 with cerebral palsy and 67 children and adolescents with normal development in the North West of Morocco. Using the classification system of the gross motor function - Expanded and Revised (GMFCS-È & R), Using a dietary survey and socio-demographic and anthropometric data, we were able to gather the following results: 11.1% of patients were classified at GMFCS level I, at level II 8.9%, 8.9% at Level III, 35.6% at IV and 35.6% at level V. Our results also showed that the state emaciation was observed in 39% of children suffering from cerebral palsy against 17.1% of non-pathological (chi-square = 4.40, p = 0.04). And 37.5% of adolescents suffering from cerebral palsy have a state of emaciation against absence in controls (chi-square = 14.30, p <0.001). Growth retardation is observed in pathological children (48.8%) than in normal (2.9%) with (chi-square = 19.91, p <0.001), whereas it did not differ significantly among adolescents (chi-square = 0.04, p = 0.84), a significant difference of underweight was observed in children of both samples (chi-square = 23.43, p <0.001), indicating deterioration in pathological. Our study also revealed the existence of correlations between the GMFCS and Z-scores studied, and significant correlations between Z-scores were established.
These results must be considered to avoid the worsening of the nutritional status of children and teenagers suffering from cerebral palsy or corrected. Also some simple laboratory tests (serum albumin, pre albumin, C - reactive protein) will be necessary to assess the endogenous or exogenous aspect of under nutrition.
The parents of child with Cerebral Palsy through difficult periods in their lives, both in childhood of their son and in his adolescence. Adolescents with physical disabilities become more difficult to treat. This transition period often associated with disorders of behavior is an important factor in parental stress and causes deterioration in the quality of life. There are few studies that seek to assess the impact of cerebral palsy on the quality of life and mental health of parents. A study protocol consisting of questionnaires, scales and grid clinical interview were distributed and completed by 67 relatives (34 mothers and 33 fathers) of children with cerebral palsy, to measure the impact of the weakness of their children on their psychological and social well- being and their quality of life. Most of our results support our hypothesis and confirm data from the literature in this area little studied in Morocco. Indeed it seems that the suffering of parents with cerebral palsied children is more pronounced at the age of adolescence than during the phase of childhood. The impact of this pain on mothers seems more intense than on fathers. In conclusion, more having a social support and a psychological counseling, more the parent's quality of life is better.