What Are The 5 Major Causes of Cerebral Palsy?

The term “cerebral” denotes a connection to the brain. Palsy refers to weakness or issues with movement in the body. An issue with the brain that develops prior to, during, or soon after birth is the cause of cerebral palsy. Despite the fact that the precise reason is not always obvious, the brain can suffer from injury or develop abnormally. The most frequent cause of motor impairments in children is cerebral palsy. Every 1,000 kids have it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

In the event that CP develops in a child, long-term care may be required, perhaps involving occupational treatment, physical therapy, speech therapy, and assistive devices for other intellectual impairments or physical limitations. Parents may be better able to notice the need for therapy when it arises if they are aware of the condition’s causes.

In the following context, the causes of cerebral palsy will be discussed, as well as how one can provide care to patients with cerebral palsy.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Sometimes the cause of cerebral palsy is unknown. However, many occurrences take place when a child’s brain is still developing, such as before birth or even in the first few months of life. This could be due to:

1. Pregnancy-related infections: Increases in certain cytokine-producing proteins that circulate in the developing baby’s blood and brain during pregnancy can be brought on by infections. Cytokines produce inflammation, which can harm the developing baby’s brain. The mother’s fever during pregnancy or delivery might potentially contribute to this issue. Viruses including chickenpox, rubella (German measles), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) as well as bacterial infections like those of the placenta, fetal membranes, or maternal pelvic infections are among the forms of infection that have been associated with CP.

2. Genetic conditions: Cerebral palsy is a severe brain illness for which there is no known cure. Researchers indicate that around 14% of all instances may be genetically based, and they hypothesize that many of these genes regulate how brain circuits are organized throughout early development.

3. Either an Antenatal or Postnatal stroke: Stroke is the leading cause of congenital hemiplegia, the most prevalent kind of cerebral palsy in infants delivered at term.

4. Untreated hepatitis/ Jaundice: Most babies get jaundice because their developing livers can’t break down the pigment quickly enough. A newborn may get kernicterus, a kind of brain injury that can cause cerebral palsy if the bilirubin level is high and the jaundice is not addressed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that over 60% of newborn newborns experience jaundice. Disorders and other health problems are typically caused by the most severe instances.

5. Medical conditions that the pregnant mother has: The child may get CP if the mother has any medical issues that impact her during pregnancy. Such as, when the placenta separates, the uterus ruptures, or there are issues with the umbilical cord during delivery, the baby’s oxygen supply is disrupted, which causes cerebral palsy (CP).

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Types of Cerebral Palsy

• Athetoid/dyskinetic cerebral palsy: Damage to the cerebellum and/or basal ganglia can result in athetoid/dyskinetic cerebral palsy, which manifests as erratic muscle tone and uncontrollable movements.
• Ataxic cerebral palsy: Cerebellar injury results in ataxic cerebral palsy, which affects motor coordination and mobility.
• Hypotonic cerebral palsy: This uncommon form of cerebral palsy, which is similarly brought on by injury to the cerebellum, is characterized by floppy muscles, excessive flexibility, and restricted movement.
• Mixed cerebral palsy: Multiple brain injuries can result in people having more than one kind of cerebral palsy, which is known as mixed cerebral palsy.
• Spastic cerebral palsy: The most prevalent kind of cerebral palsy, spastic cerebral palsy is characterized by tight muscles and jerky movements and is brought on by injury to the motor cortex or pyramidal tracts.

The condition’s management will determine whether motor abilities become better or get worse over time. There are several medical and support alternatives to assist children with cerebral palsy to have happy, meaningful lives, while symptoms and severity vary from case to case Individuals with cerebral palsy may have a wide range of signs and symptoms. The entire body may be affected by cerebral palsy, or it may only largely affect one or two limbs or one side. Typically, indications and symptoms include issues with growth, speaking and feeding, mobility and coordination, and other issues.

Depending on the kind and intensity of symptoms, each patient’s cerebral palsy therapy may differ. As a non-progressive condition, cerebral palsy does not get worse with time. Receiving the right care for your child’s cerebral palsy symptoms can make a big difference in their condition. Medication, therapy, and surgery are the main cerebral palsy treatment modalities. In order to live a long, healthy life, cerebral palsy therapy aims to control symptoms, ease pain, and optimize independence.

In the case of a movement disorder or developmental delay in your child, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you are concerned about your child’s loss of awareness, abnormal movements, muscle tone, swallowing difficulties, or eye muscle imbalance, let your child’s doctor know.

Reference

• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cerebral-palsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20353999
• https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/cerebral-palsy/conditioninfo/causes#
• https://cerebralpalsy.org.au/our-research/about-cerebral-palsy/what-is-cerebral-palsy/causes/
• https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cerebral-palsy-genetic/