Cerebral Palsy Causes
Any damage to the developing brain, whether caused by developmental or
genetic disorders, disease, may produce cerebral palsy.
During pregnancy, anything which tends to produce a premature or low birth
weight baby who is not developed enough to cope with the stresses of independent
life will increase the likelihood of cerebral palsy. Factors which may cause
cerebral palsy include:
Multiple births (e.g. twins, triplets)
A damaged placenta which may interfere with fetal growth
Sexually transmitted infectious diseases, e.g. AIDS, herpes, syphilis,
gonorrhea
Poor nutrition
Exposure to toxic substances, including nicotine, alcohol and drugs
Rh or A-B-O blood type incompatibility between mother and infant
Chromosome abnormalities
Biochemical genetic disorders
Chance malformations of the baby's brain
A labour which is too long or too abrupt can cause damage. Poor oxygen supply
may destroy brain tissue.
German measles during pregnacy
Small pelvic structure
Premature delivery
Caesarian or breech delivery
Effects of anesthetics, analgesics
In early childhood, cerebral palsy can occur if a young child's brain is damaged
by:
· Infections such as meningitis
· Brain hemorrhages
· Head injury following falls, car accidents or abuse
· Drowning accidents
· Poisoning
Some measures of prevention are possible today. Newborns with jaundice can be
treated effectively with phototherapy. Pregnant women are tested for the
Rh factor and, if Rh negative, they can be immunized within 72 hours of giving
birth. This prevents any adverse consequences of blood incompatibility in a
subsequent pregnancy.
Education programs stress the importance of optimal well-being prior to
conception and adequate prenatal care. Safety campaigns give advice on
protecting children from accidents and injury. These measures have undoubtedly
prevented many children from developing cerebral palsy.
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Causes of Cerbral Palsy
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 childs 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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