Cerebral Palsy Causes

Cerebral palsy is not caused by any single circumstance and is usually a result of multiple factors with similar roots involving problems with coordination and control of movement. It is usually a result of injury during fetal development and less often during birth. In most cases, this condition is not detected for several months after birth and the specific cause of it is extremely hard to pinpoint.

However, about 10 per cent of all cerebral palsy cases are linked to brain damage early in a child's life and can be caused by brain infections as well as physical injury. The higher the risk is of such events occurring during an infant's development the more cautious parents should be in avoiding these risks.

Some of the causes of cerebral palsy include:

blood type incompatibility between mother and infant
premature birth
bacterial infection of the mother, fetus or infant affecting the central nervous system
loss of oxygen to the infant during birth
physical injuries during or following birth
lack of growth factors during intra-uterine development
inability of placenta to provide the fetus with oxygen and necessary nutrients

Comments

Origin and History of Cerebral Palsy

Who Discovered Cerebral Palsy? The origin and history of cerebral palsy includes a number of great minds, generous hearts, and dedicated people striving to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities. In the mid-1800s, Dr. William John Little pioneered the study of cerebral palsy using his own childhood disability as an inspiration. His innovative techniques are still helping people today. Sir William Osler, considered an important figure in furthering modern medicine, expounded on Little’s research and wrote the first book on cerebral palsy. Dr. Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, proposed the idea that cerebral palsy might result from abnormal fetal development – decades before the medical field embraced the concept. Other individuals and organizations made historical strides toward helping those with cerebral palsy, as well. At different times, the U.S. government passed crucial legislation to modernize care and further th...

Types of Cerebral Palsy

Currently there are four known types of cerebral palsy, which consist of: Athetoid/Dyskinetic Spastic Cerebral Palsy Ataxic Cerebral Palsy Mixed Form Cerebral Palsy (combination of one or more of the above) Athetoid/Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy This type of cerebral palsy is usually characterized by slow uncontrollable movements which usually affect the muscles in legs, hands, feet, and in some cases face or throat, which can result in drooling or grimacing. Such symptoms are most visible during times of emotional stress and are virtually invisible during sleep. In addition, this type of cerebral palsy can cause speech disorders. Athetoid or Dyskinetic cerebral palsy falls in to roughly 10-20 per cent of all cases. Spastic Cerebral Palsy This is the most common type of cerebral palsy, which is known to occur in about 70-80 per cent of all cases. It is described based on which of patient's limbs are affected. In most of these cases ones limbs are either paralyz...

Indian Cerebral Palsy

While cerebral palsy (pronounced seh-ree-brel pawl-zee) is a blanket term commonly referred to as “CP” and described by loss or impairment of motor function, cerebral palsy is actually caused by brain damage. The brain damage is caused by brain injury or abnormal development of the brain that occurs while a child’s brain is still developing — before birth, during birth, or immediately after birth. Cerebral palsy affects body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance. It can also impact fine motor skills, gross motor skills and oral motor functioning. Cerebral Palsy is the Result of a Brain Injury or a Brain Malformation Those with cerebral palsy were most likely born with the condition, although some acquire it later. It was once thought that cerebral palsy was caused by complications during the birthing process. While this does happen, it is now widely agreed that birthing complications account for only a small percentage...

Cerebral Palsy Treatments in India

Search This Blog