CAUSES OF CEREBRAL PALSY

What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

It is believed tat there isn't any single cause of cerebral palsy. It is hard to digest that for almost all babies born with cerebral palsy, the cause remains unknown. Previously doctors believed that cerebral palsy was due to complications at birth, including asphyxia (i.e. lack of oxygen). However, researchers now understand that this may be the real cause in a very small percentage of cases of cerebral palsy. 

Researchers now say that they have identified some risk factors that may lead to cerebral palsy. These include:

• Premature birth

• Low birth weight (small for gestational age) with low reflexes

• Any infection of the mother or other viral diseases in early pregnancy

• Low water level due to dehydration during pregnancy

• Prolonged loss of oxygen during the pregnancy or birthing process

• Jaundice shortly after birth. 

In present times, it is generally accepted and believed that cerebral palsy usually arises from a combination of events that can lead to an injury which is known as " ischemic injury" in a baby’s brain. In India, it has been observed that except a few cases of cerebral palsy, in all other cases, the brain injury which causes cerebral palsy occurs either in the uterus (while the mother is pregnant) or during the 1^st month of age. At present, researchers are not sure of the real cause of this peculiar trend.