CEREBRAL PALSY CAUSES

The German measles, or rubella, during a pregnancy can infect the fetus of the woman as well. This can cause damage to the still developing nervous system. Infections, like cytomegalovirus and toxoplasmosis, can cause brain injury to the fetus. Rh incompatibility is a blood condition that causes the mother's body to produce antibodies, or immune cells, that destroy the fetus's blood cells. This can lead to a form of jaundice in the newborn that can cause Cerebral Palsy.

Asphyxia is common in babies during the stress of labor and delivery. Asphyxia is a lack of oxygen that is caused by an interruption in breathing or poor oxygen supply. A newborn baby's blood is equipped to compensate for low levels of oxygen. If asphyxia significantly lowers the supply of oxygen to the infant's brain for a lengthy period, the baby may develop brain damage called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Often, the babies with this type of brain damage die, while the other babies may develop Cerebral Palsy. This is the type of CP that is accompanied by mental impairment and seizures.

Strokes can occur in several forms. Broken blood vessels in the brain, clogged blood vessels, or abnormal blood cells are a few ways that bleeding in the brain can occur. A breathing disorder common in premature babies, newborn respiratory distress, is one cause of a stroke. These strokes can happen when the fetus is during pregnancy or to a newborn around the time of birth. Damaged brain tissue, as a result, can cause neurological problems.

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