Cerebral Palsy Causes
About 70 percent of cerebral palsy cases result from events occurring before
birth that can disrupt normal development of the brain. Contrary to common
belief, lack of oxygen reaching the fetus during labor and delivery contributes
to only a small minority of cases of cerebral palsy, according to a 2003 report
by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). A small number of babies also develop
brain injuries in the first months or years of life that can result in cerebral
palsy. In many cases, the cause of cerebral palsy in a child is not known.
Some of the known causes of cerebral palsy include:
Infections during pregnancy - Certain infections in the mother, including
rubella (German measles), cytomegalovirus (a usually mild viral infection) and
toxoplasmosis (a usually mild parasitic infection) can cause brain damage and
result in cerebral palsy. Recent studies suggest that maternal infections
involving the placental membranes (chorioamnionitis) may contribute to cerebral
palsy in full-term as well as preterm babies (those born before 37 completed
weeks of pregnancy). A 2003 study at the University of California at San
Francisco found that full-term babies were four times more likely to develop
cerebral palsy if they were exposed to chorioamnionitis in the womb.
Reproductive/urinary tract infections also may increase the risk of preterm
delivery, another risk factor for cerebral palsy.
Insufficient oxygen reaching the fetus - For example, when the placenta is
not functioning properly or it tears away from the wall of the uterus before
delivery, the fetus may not receive sufficient oxygen.
Prematurity - Premature babies who weigh less than
3 1/3 pounds are up to 30 times more likely to develop cerebral palsy than
full-term babies. Many of these tiny babies suffer from bleeding in the brain,
which can damage delicate brain tissue, or develop periventricular leukomalacia,
destruction of nerves around the fluid-filled cavities (ventricles) in the
brain.
Asphyxia during labor and delivery - Until recently, it was widely believed
that asphyxia (lack of oxygen) during a difficult delivery was the cause of most
cases of cerebral palsy. The ACOG/AAP report shows that fewer than 10 percent of
the type of brain injuries that can result in cerebral palsy are caused by
asphyxia.
Blood Diseases - Rh disease, an incompatibility between the blood of the
mother and her fetus, can cause severe jaundice and brain damage, resulting in
cerebral palsy. Rh disease usually can be prevented by giving an Rh-negative
woman an injection of a blood product called Rh immune globulin around the 28th
week of pregnancy and again after the birth of an Rh-positive baby. Blood
clotting disorders (thrombophilias) in either mother or baby also may increase
the risk.
Severe jaundice - Jaundice, yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes
caused by the build-up of a pigment called bilirubin in the blood, occasionally
becomes severe. Without treatment, severe jaundice can pose a risk of permanent
brain damage resulting in athetoid cerebral palsy.
Other birth defects - Babies with brain malformations, numerous
genetic diseases and other physical birth defects are at increased risk of
cerebral palsy.
Acquired cerebral palsy - About 10 percent of children with cerebral
palsy acquire it after birth due to brain injuries that occur during the first
two years of life. The most common causes of such injuries are brain infections
(such as meningitis) and head injuries.
More Information
While most doctors, nurses, midwives, and
hospital technicians provide a high standard of care for their patients,
unfortunately, many families are harmed by medical mistakes. Parents of
a child suffering with cerebral palsy should contact an experienced
cerebral palsy lawyer to research the cause of their child’s condition.
Medical mistakes are responsible for many birth injury cases and it
would be impossible for a parent, alone, to determine if medical
malpractice caused their child's injury. It is only through the
dedicated and thorough efforts of a legal and medical team that the
cause can be ascertained.
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