What Can Be Done?

This content is from page 63 of Disabled Village Children

As soon as possible, take the child to a trusted health worker. Some conditions that cause paralysis in children are temporary when treated quickly while others are not. It is important to find out if the paralysis is caused by a condition that can be treated.
Good food helps children become stronger. For more information, see Where There Is No Doctor, Chapter 11.
Position child to be comfortable and to avoid contractures. At first their muscles will be painful, and the child will not want to straighten their joints. Slowly and gently try to straighten their arms and legs so that the child lies in as good a position as possible (see Chapter 8).

GOOD POSITION	BAD POSITION

Arms, hips, and legs as straight as possible. Feet supported.	Bent arms, hips, and legs. Feet in tiptoe position.

Note: To reduce pain, you may need to put cushions under the knees, but try to keep the knees as straight as you can.

Continue with good food and good positioning.
If possible, a rehabilitation worker can examine the child to determine what aids and assistance they need.
As soon as is possible for the child, start exercises to prevent contractures and rebuild strength, including range-of-motion exercises. Try to make exercises fun. Active games, swimming, and other activities to keep limbs moving as much as they can are important throughout a child’s rehabilitation.

Crutches, leg braces (calipers), and other aids may help the child to move better and may prevent contractures or deformities.
In specific cases, surgery may be needed to correct contractures, or to change the place where stronger muscles attach, so that they help do the work of weaker ones. When a foot is very floppy or bends to one side, surgery to join certain bones of the foot may help. But because bone surgery stops the growth of the foot, usually it should not be done before age 12 or 13.
Encourage the child to use his body and mind as much as possible, to play actively with other children, to take care of his daily needs, to help with work, and to go to school. As much as possible, treat him like any other child.

This page was updated:04 Apr 2024

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