How to Identify New Causes and Risk Factors For Cerebral Palsy
Every expectant mother desires to give birth to a healthy baby, there are just times when things go horribly wrong, and parents wished that they have taken more time to find out how best they could have avoided the whole thing.
One of the best ways to identify the new causes and the risk factors for cerebral palsy (also known as CP) is to ensure that you read any material on the topic.
It is important to understand that a risk factor is certainly not a cause; it is simply a variable that increases the possibility of something occurring, when it is present. To put it simply, risk factors for cerebral palsy is not a cause of this condition. It is simply a variable that could increase the possibility of giving birth to a child with cerebral palsy.
Note:
Please know that the presence of risk factors does not in anyway mean that CP will occur, nor does the total absence of risk factors mean that CP will not occur.
If risk factors are present, it should simply alert healthcare professionals and parents to be a lot more watchful of the baby’s development. Risk factors can be linked with the mother, father and the child as well.
The following are the risk factors which are linked to parents that can increase the possibility of giving birth to a child with cerebral palsy:
- A mother who is 40 years of age or older
- A mother who is 20 years of age or younger
- African American ethnicity
- Father who is 20 years of age or younger
The following are the risk factors which are linked to the baby that can increase the possibility of CP:
- A first baby or a baby that is born 5th or much later in the family
- Low birth weight, lower than 3.5lbs
- One of twins, particularly if the other twin dies
- Premature baby, less than thirty seven (37) weeks
Other well known risks factors that could increase the chances of cerebral palsy include:
- ABO or Rh type incompatibility between the mother and the baby
- Attack by micro-organisms on the baby’s central nervous system
- Infection of the expectant mother with German measles or any other type of virus in the early stage of pregnancy.
There are more than one risk factor that can be present at the same time, like being a twin and low birth weight. Combinations like these further increase the risk of CP.
After the birth of the baby, causes of CP in babies include:
- Lead poisoning
- Severe jaundice
- Toxins
- Physical brain injury
- Accidents that involve hypoxia to the brain
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis
- Shaken baby syndrome
The three well known causes of asphyxia in very young children are poisoning, near drowning and choking on foreign objects like pieces of food and toys with small parts.
By reading the right resources, expectant mothers can identify the causes and risk factors for cerebral palsy.
Origins of Cerebral Palsy is the comprehensive source for information on causes and treatment of Cerebral Palsy.
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