Traditional medicine cannot cure cerebral palsy, Nigerian doctors warn parents

Medical doctors are warning parents against abandoning conventional medical care for unproven traditional treatments for cerebral palsy. They stress that the condition, caused by damage to a developing brain, affects movement, posture, and coordination and is permanent.

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CP affects movement, posture, and coordination. It may cause permanent disabilities. While the brain injury doesn’t worsen over time, symptoms and physical challenges may change as your child grows.

While there is no cure, specialists highlight that early diagnosis and interventions such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and medication can greatly enhance the quality of life for children with cerebral palsy. The Cleveland Clinic defines it as a group of neurological conditions resulting from brain injury before, during, or after birth, noting that while the brain injury itself doesn't worsen, symptoms can change as a child grows.

In Nigeria, misconceptions about cerebral palsy persist, leading some families to seek traditional medicine instead of evidence-based treatment. Disturbingly, some children have been subjected to harmful practices like being half-buried in the ground, based on mistaken beliefs that this would help them improve posture or learn to stand. Senior medical professionals are urging families to reject these myths and seek timely, evidence-based care.

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Worldwide, it’s estimated to be about two per 1,000. But in Nigeria, we have about five per 1,000.

A Paediatric Neurologist at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Dr. Umar Sabo, noted that cerebral palsy affects approximately five out of every 1,000 children in Nigeria, compared to about two per 1,000 globally. He explained that the condition, which impacts posture and movement in children under five, can stem from various factors during pregnancy, such as brain formation issues, strokes, birth complications, severe infections like meningitis, head injuries, or untreated neonatal jaundice.

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For example, when there is a problem with brain formation, or when there is a problem with brain development, or when the child had a stroke, or when the child was unable to establish breathing immediately after birth, or when the child had a severe infection like meningitis, or a severe head injury, or when the child had severe neonatal jaundice that was not managed on time.