Thousands of Cerebral Palsy Cases Diagnosed Every Year
By Jim Greene
Published on December 20, 2009
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of similar incurable neuromuscular disorders that affect about 764,000 children and adults in the United States. The cause is brain damage in the womb, during the birthing process, or in infancy or early childhood. The result is permanent inability to control motor function.
According to United Cerebral Palsy, a national charity dedicated to serving CP victims and their families, about 8,000 newborns and infants are diagnosed with the condition each year. As many as 1,500 additional diagnoses occur among preschool children.
CP Causes Include Prematurity, Disease, Injury
CP can occur because of premature birth, prenatal infections of mother or fetus, or lack of oxygen in the womb, due to placental malfunction. These factors account for the majority of cases. CP developed during Infancy and early childhood can be the result of either disease or head injury.
Some CP birth injury cases are the result of complications or accidents during childbirth. Oxygen deprivation, known as asphyxia, is one cause. This can occur when the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby's neck or the baby spends too much time in the birth canal. Trauma to the head can be another cause.
Most Symptoms Result from Loss of Muscle Control
Loss of muscle control and coordination is the most common motor function deficiency among CP victims. The results can include muscle spasticity, involuntary movement, and problems walking, swallowing, or speaking. There may also be difficulty in breathing or eating, as well as learning disabilities. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, estimates that two-thirds of children with CP will suffer some form of mental impairment.
The lifetime cost of caring for a victim of CP can approach $1 million dollars. If your child developed CP as the result of injury incurred during delivery, you may be eligible for financial compensation to help you deal with these debilitating expenses. You owe it to yourself to contact an experience personal injury attorney today and get the facts.
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