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.