Cerebral Palsy Causes

WHAT CAUSES CEREBRAL PALSY?

Several of the causes of cerebral palsy that have been identified through research are preventable or treatable:

Childhood head injury (such as from an accident or child abuse)

Jaundice

Rh(Rhesus) incompatibility in pregnancy

Lead poisoning

Rubella (German measles) and other illnesses during pregnancy

Premature delivery.

Chief among the causes is an insufficient amount of oxygen or poor flow of blood reaching the fetal or newborn brain. This can be caused by premature separation of the placenta, an awkward birth position, labor that goes on too long or is too abrupt, or interference with the umbilical cord.