In pediatric neurology, which condition is known for causing spastic diplegia?

Spastic diplegia is a specific type of cerebral palsy characterized primarily by increased muscle tone and stiffness primarily affecting the legs, while the arms may be less affected. This condition results from damage to the brain's motor control areas, typically arising from factors such as prenatal exposure to infections, lack of oxygen during birth, or other perinatal issues.

In children with spastic diplegia, the legs become stiff, leading to difficulties with movement, balance, and coordination, and these impairments are most pronounced in the lower limbs. The hallmark of this condition is the symmetrical involvement of both legs, which leads to a distinct gait pattern and challenges with mobility.

The other conditions listed do not primarily cause spastic diplegia. Muscular dystrophy primarily leads to muscle weakness due to degeneration of muscle fibers, spina bifida consists of a neural tube defect that can result in a range of symptoms including weakness or paralysis of the lower extremities, and multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune condition that affects the nervous system and varies widely in symptoms, but it does not typically present as spastic diplegia in children.