The Potential Causes of Cerebral Palsy
By Neil Smith
Published on May 04, 2010
Some cases of cerebral palsy can be linked to causes that occurred prior to the birth of the baby while other cases can also be linked to a brain injury or an infection that occurs during the first months or years of a child's life. Learn more about the causes of cerebral palsy.
Maternal Infections
There are several infectious disease that can be linked to cerebral palsy. Maternal infections include the German measles which is also known as rubella, chickenpox, and syphilis. A mother may also experience toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is a parasite that is found within soil or within the feces of a cat that is infected. Toxoplasmosis is very harmful to the fetus.
Infant Illnesses
Infant illnesses have also been linked to many cases of cerebral palsy. These illnesses include meningitis and viral encephalitis. When a child is affected by meningitis the membranes that are surrounding the child's spinal cord and brain will be suffer inflammation, which can cause brain injury. Viral encephalitis causes the brain itself to suffer from inflammation.
Development in the Womb
Some cases of cerebral palsy have been linked to improper development during the pregnancy. In most of these cases, doctors do not know why improper development occurs. Some instances of cerebral palsy have also been linked to radiation exposure, infections, and toxins, and congenital abnormalities.
Other Causes of Cerebral Palsy
There are also several other causes of cerebral palsy that can occur during the pregnancy or in the very first few months of a child's life. These causes include strokes, a lack of oxygen during birth, and severe jaundice. Strokes are commonly thought to only affect older people but they can and do happen at any age. They can even occur before a child is born. Also while jaundice is very common in newborns, severe and untreated cases can cause permanent damage to the brain and cerebral palsy.
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, contact our Detroit birth injury attorneys for assistance with your case. We have experience handling Michigan cerebral palsy cases.
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