Cerebral Palsy Causes

• Infections during pregnancy that may damage a fetus' developing nervous system. These include rubella (German measles), cytomegalovirus (a herpes-type virus), and toxoplasmosis (an infection caused by a parasite that can be carried in cat feces or inadequately cooked meat). Other infections in pregnant women that may go undetected are being recognized now as an important cause of developmental brain damage in the fetus.


• Severe jaundice in the infant. Jaundice is caused by excessive bilirubin in the blood. Normally, bilirubin is filtered out by the liver. But often, newborns' livers need a few days to start doing this effectively, so it's not uncommon for infants to have jaundice for a few days after birth. In most cases, phototherapy (light therapy) clears up jaundice, and there are no lasting health effects. However, in rare cases, severe, untreated jaundice can damage brain cells.


• Rh incompatibility between mother and infant. In this blood condition, the mother's body produces antibodies that destroy the fetus's blood cells. This, in turn, leads to a form of jaundice in the newborn and may cause brain damage.


• The physical and metabolic trauma of being born. This can precipitate brain damage in a fetus whose health has been threatened during development.


• Severe oxygen deprivation to the brain or significant trauma to the head during labor and delivery.

Some risk factors that increase the possibility that a child will later be diagnosed with CP include:

• Breech births (with the feet, knees, or buttocks coming out first).


• Vascular or respiratory problems in the infant during birth.


• Physical birth defects such as faulty spinal bone formation, groin hernias, or an abnormally small jaw bone.


• Receiving a low Apgar score 10 to 20 minutes after delivery. An Apgar test is used to make a basic, immediate determination of a newborn's physical health. For the test, the infant's heart rate, breathing, muscle tone, reflexes, and color are evaluated and given a score from 0 (low) to 2 (normal).


• A low birth weight (less than 2,500 grams, or 5 lbs. 7.5 oz.) and premature birth (born less than 37 weeks into pregnancy).


• Being a twin or part of a multiple birth.


• A congenital nervous system malformation, such as an abnormally small head (microcephaly).


• Seizures shortly after birth.

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