A three-month-old developmentally delayed infant is admitted to the pediatrics unit. The nurse evaluates the infant for manifestations of cerebral palsy (CP). Which of the following would the nurse note as a sign of CP?

Explanation

• A child with CP may show opisthotonic posturing (exaggerated arching of the neck and back) and rigidity.

• When the child is lifted, the arms and legs may be spastic and the legs may cross.

• Slight head lag is expected in a three-month-old infant, but with CP head control remains poor.

• Children with CP often have exaggerated reflexes due to an upper motor neuron lesion.

• Head circumference measurement less than the 50th percentile is a normal finding for a three-month-old infant.

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