Cerebral Palsy Causes

As far back as even the early 60 it was thought that cerebral palsy was caused by some medical intervention with the fetus somehow being deprived of oxygen during the birth process. In truth, only about 10% of cerebral palsy is caused by something happening during the birth process, though it can be one of the known cerebral palsy causes.

Unfortunately it is now known that brain damage can happen to a developing brain or during the birth process, or even a few years later if the child brain suffers some trauma, such as a near drowning, or the shaken child syndrome. Even worse, at times there is no specific cause to point to, thus cerebral palsy causes are often unknown.

Current medical thinking is thought to account for cerebral palsy causes as being perhaps an anomaly that actually happens while the child is developing inside the mother, and thus they point to many possibilities for the cause of cerebral palsy. It is a known fact though, for example, that if the mother is an ongoing alcoholic the chances for cerebral palsy are higher. Basic medical problems with the mother are also thought to be high indicators of cerebral palsy, such as measles. Birth defects are thought to be another possible cause. An Rh factor discrepancy between the birth mother and the fetus is yet another.

Also, hereditary as well as genetic conditions have pointed to being one of the cerebral palsy causes. Complications during delivery, is yet another. Multiple births or the death of a twin in uterus is also a possible cause. In fact, intrauterine death of one twin is thought to often cause cerebral palsy. After birth the baby exhibiting severe jaundice has sometimes been an indicator of cerebral palsy causes.

As you can now imagine, cerebral palsy is a disorder with a myriad of causes, and not just a single cause like measles for instance. Now, after birth there are also a number of possible causes. Factors such as brain infections, through perhaps viral encephalitis or bacterial meningitis, for example are known to be common cerebral palsy causes. However, the majority of cerebral palsy after birth is often the result of the child suffering a head injury, perhaps from a fall or even from a motor vehicle accident.

Sometimes the cause of cerebral palsy can be pinpointed by finding the exact brain disorder. This can be achieved by such tests as a CT scan, which may reveal abnormal cysts in the brain for instance. An MRI can be used to scan the brain and thus identify which disorder is causing the problem. Ultrasonography can be used in infants prior to the bones of the skull hardening and closing. It also can detect cysts and such. Seizure disorders can be found by the use of an electroencephalogram, or EEG, which is a totally painless test using the study of brain waves.

Many of the causes of cerebral palsy have been changed or at least partially eliminated through diligent treatment and tests during pregnancy. For instance, tests that can ascertain that there is no blood incompatibility between themselves and the unborn child (the Rh factor), and there are now immunizations against diseases such as measles when a woman reaches the age of maturity.

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Cerebral Palsy Causes

causes for cerebral palsy

Cerebral Palsy Causes

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