Parental perception of cold extremities and other accompanying symptoms in children with cerebral palsy

Cold extremities have been noted in non-walking children with cerebral damage compared with healthy controls. Whether this is a general problem in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and associated with other symptoms is unknown. This study describes accompanying symptoms such as cold extremities, constipation, pain, sleeping disorders and impaired well-being in children with CP as well as treatment the children have undergone. Associations between cold extremities and other symptoms borne by the children were analysed and discussed. From information in postal surveys received from parents of children with CP, 107 children (60 boys and 47 girls) aged 5–13 years, mean 11 years 8 months (SD 2 years 11 months), were described and analysed. Besides neurological impairments, many children had cold extremities and pain, sleeping disorders, constipation, and impaired well-being. Most children had had one or more of these symptoms for over 1 year but the symptoms were largely untreated. Non-walkers generally had more symptoms than walkers. Although pain, constipation, and sleeping disorders may have different underlying causes in children with CP, these symptoms might also be mediated or aggravated by dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system. To improve the child's well-being, early recognition and treatment of accompanying symptoms is important.