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THE CAUSE OF CEREBRAL PALSY

The cause of cerebral palsy (CP) is believed be determined by several issues which may include the parents genetics, their behaviour and their environment, the child's biological makeup and outside physical influences including inadequate or inappropriate medical treatment. There are a large number of potential factors that may contribute to the cause of cerebral palsy and increase the risks of the child having the disorder however the presence of any of these factors does not mean that the child will suffer from the disorder and at the same time, the absence of them does not exclude a child from being at risk. These matters, some of which are outlined below, should also be considered as factors that help guide doctors in the diagnosis of the disease.

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Risk Factors

The items listed below are all well recognised risk factors in the cause of cerebral palsy however they are no more than that and detailed medical advice should only be obtained from a healthcare professional. Matters that could possibly contribute to a child being born with CP or developing it shortly after birth include the following :-

• if a mother gives birth with the child in the breech position, which means that the child is not positioned correctly for birth - this common situation occurs when the childs head is the last part to present itself during birth
• if a child is the first born, the fifth born or later or when the child is a twin or is part of a multiple birth and at least one other sibling died
• if there were complications immediately before, during or immediately after birth such as respiratory or vascular problems - when this occurs the baby may suffer brain damage due to deprivation of oxygen
• if the child was found to be born with a microbial-related illness, which may have damaged the baby's central nervous system
• if the baby exhibited neurological problems immediately after birth, it may be assumed that the baby had developmental problems while still in the womb
• if the baby's Apgar score is below an acceptable level - the Apgar score is calculated using information obtained from the vital signs including respiratory rates, cardiovascular condition and muscular condition - if the baby's Apgar score is low then it is a possible indicator of illness or disorder
• if the child has a birth weight under 1.5 kilograms or was born earlier than 37 weeks which can pose potential health complications since the baby has not completed development at that stage
• if the mother and child do not have compatible blood types

The possible cause of cerebral palsy is not only confined to the child's health condition and in some cases, the mother may contribute including :-

• bleeding during pregnancy, especially between the sixth and ninth month
• severe case of proteinuria
• being infected with certain viruses including German measles, herpes, etc.
• incidence of endocrine disorder such as hyperthyroidism.