Cerebral palsy in children

Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect balance, movement, and muscle tone. "Cerebral" means the disorder is related to the brain, while "palsy" refers to a muscle weakness or problem.

Cerebral palsy starts in the area of the brain that controls the ability to move muscles. Cerebral palsy can occur when this part of the brain does not develop properly or when it is damaged immediately after birth or at a very early age.

Most people with cerebral palsy are born with it. This is called "congenital" cerebral palsy. But it can also start after birth, in which case it's called "acquired" cerebral palsy.

People with cerebral palsy may have mild muscle control problems, or they may be so severe that they cannot walk. Some people with cerebral palsy find it difficult to speak. Others have mental retardation, and many have normal intelligence.

What are the reasons?

Doctors can't always figure out exactly what happened that caused the brain damage or developmental disorder that led to cerebral palsy.

Some of the problems that can damage the brain or interfere with its growth include:

Bleeding in the brain while the baby is in the womb, during birth or afterward
A lack of blood flow to important organs
Seizures at birth or in the first month of life
Some genetic conditions
Traumatic brain injuries

Am I at risk of having a child with cerebral palsy?

During pregnancy, you may have a medical condition that makes your baby more likely to develop cerebral palsy. Among them:

Being pregnant with multiples, such as twins or triplets
Having a health issue such as seizures or a problem with your thyroid gland
Having blood that’s not compatible with your baby’s, which is also called Rh disease
Coming in contact with a toxic substance such as mercury, which is found in some kinds of fish

Some infections and viruses that affect during pregnancy can increase the risk of having a baby with cerebral palsy. They include:

Rubella, or German measles, a viral illness that can be prevented with a vaccine
Chickenpox, also called varicella (a vaccine can prevent this contagious illness.)
Cytomegalovirus, which causes flu-like symptoms in the mother
Herpes, which can be passed from mother to unborn child and can damage the baby’s developing nervous system
Toxoplasmosis, which is carried by parasites found in soil, cat feces and tainted food
Syphilis, a sexually transmitted bacterial infection
Zika, a virus carried by mosquitoes

Can my child have cerebral palsy even if I don't have high-risk conditions?

Just as certain diseases in mothers increase the risk of cerebral palsy, certain infections in children increase the risk. Here are some of them:

Bacterial meningitis. This causes swelling of the brain and tissues around the spinal cord.
Viral encephalitis. It can also cause swelling around the brain and spinal cord.
Severe jaundice (yellowing of the skin). This condition occurs when excess bilirubin, a yellow pigment, accumulates in the blood.

Certain problems during childbirth can also increase the risk of cerebral palsy. They understand:

Breech position. This means that the baby is placed feet first instead of head first when labor begins.
Low birth weight. If your child weighs less than 5.5 pounds, the chances of cerebral palsy increase.
Premature birth. This means any time before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
Complicated labor and delivery. This means problems with your child's respiratory or circulatory system.