It is difficult for anyone to tell a parent specifically what caused their child to have cerebral palsy. The reason is that pinpointing on what might have caused injury to the brain or how it could have been avoided is quite difficult . What we do know is that the brain injury typically happens before, during or shortly after birth. In order to get a better understanding of how the injury could have occurred, it is essential that you know of the causes of cerebral palsy.
Unlike conditions such as mumps, measles, or chicken pox, factors that cause cerebral palsy cannot be isolated. Cerebral palsy is a condition that is a mix of different disorders which are generally related, and the root cause of each of these disorders is different . Doctors who diagnose cerebral palsy should look at the child individually, examine the risk factors as well as symptoms, and go through the child's/mother's medical history
Believe it or not it is only about 10 to 20% of children receive a brain injury that is one of the causes of cerebral palsy after they are born. A large percentage (70% - 80%) are attributed to complications in pregnancy or in childbirth. Infection is known to be the main cause. Babies that are born with cerebral palsy would have generally received the injury that caused the condition while still in their mother's womb, and these are cases where the injury could be averted
In saying that the injury could have occurred during pregnancy, this would mean when the brain is just starting to develop or in the birthing process where the baby moves out of the 'birth canal'. While a few years ago they believed that the main cause of cerebral palsy was inadequate oxygen to the brain of the baby. Recent statistics have shown that as few as ten percent of these cases start during childbirth. {The honest truth is that there are probably many cases that are caused by a combination of prenatal, perinatal and postnatal factors| The truth being that there are a number of cases which are caused to due postnatal, perinatal, and prenatal, factors combined| The fact of the matter is that there are scores of instances where the condition is caused to a combination of factors involving pre, peri, and postnatal conditions| However, the fact is that a number of cases occur due to factors which combine postnatal, perinatal, as well as prenatal aspects|.
Risk factors that could lead to a baby being born with cerebral palsy are mentioned below. There is a possibility on increased risk when the mother has thyroid disorders, infections, etc. Risk also goes up in instances where the baby is born with defects to the overall metabolism, head, face, lungs, or spinal cord. Also, in cases where the mother's and child's Rh factor are incompatible, and where these instances go undetected and untreated, there is a possibility of the child suffering from damage to the brain.
Other causes of cerebral palsy include some hereditary conditions, complications that take place during labor and delivery, a premature birth, if baby has a low birth weight, severe jaundice after birth, if baby is a twin or triplet and yes, a lack of oxygen for an extended period of time prior to, during or after birth.
If you think that the causes for cerebral palsy in your child could have been avoided you can always choose to approach an attorney who would then help you in getting compensated, thereby ensuring better care for your child.
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causes of cerebral palsy are. If your child was a victim of cerebral palsy due to medical malpractice, you may have legal options at your disposal.
