RISK FACTORS RELATED TO CEREBRAL PALSY.
PREMATURITY {PRETERM}
Infants born prematurely faces a number of challenges as their bodies and nervous system may not have fully developed hence exposing them to infection and other complications that may contribute to cerebral palsy .Although premature birth doesn’t mean a child will develop cerebral palsy or any health issues , nearly half of the children who do develop C.P were born prematurely.
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT.
Children who weigh less than 2500 grams have a greater chance of having cerebral palsy. Although healthy babies are born with low birth weight with no reason for concern, other times low birth weight may be an indication that the baby has not fully developed which can lead to breathing problems and inadequate oxygen supply to the developing brain hence resulting to cerebral palsy.
MATERNAL HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND INFECTIONS.
This can lead to abnormal brain development or brain damage while the infant is still in utero and therefore its essential to get regular prenatal care and routine medical monitoring while pregnant.
MUTIPLE PREGNANCY.
Twins/triplets have greater risks especially if a baby’s twin or triplets dies before or shortly after birth. Some but not all of this increased risk is due to the fact that children born from multiple pregnancies often are born early or with low birth weight or both.
ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY{ INFERTILITY TREATMENT}.
Children born from pregnancies resulting from the use of some fertility treatment has a greater chance of having cerebral palsy . Most of the increased risk is explained by pre-term delivery /multiple birth.
HAEMORRHAGE. {FETAL STROKE}
Haemorrhaging is another cause of infant brain damage and is more common in babies born prematurely. This can result after a baby has a problem with the blood flow to the brain or reduced oxygen to the brain. Bleeding inside the brain isn’t necessarily visible it’s until specific symptoms occur that doctors diagnose it.
BIRTH COMPLICATIONS.
Detachment of placenta , uterine rupture ,problems with the umbilical cords and prolonged labour during birth can disrupt oxygen supply to the baby resulting to cerebral palsy.
JAUNDICE AND KERNICTERUS.
Jaundice happens when a chemical called bilirubin builds up in the baby’s blood. When severe jaundice goes untreated for too long ,it can cause a condition by the name kernicterus which can cause cerebral palsy and other conditions. Sometime kernicterus results from ABO or Rh blood type difference between the mother and the baby. This causes the red blood cells in the baby to breakdown too fast resulting to severe jaundice hence contributing to cerebral palsy.
MENINGITIS AND ENCEPHALITIS.
Viral encephalitis and meningitis causes inflammation of the brain membranes which leads to brain damage.
MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE AND MISTAKES .
Most common type of medical mistakes that can lead to cerebral palsy -;
1.Failure to monitor oxygen level.
2.Surgical or anaesthesia errors.
3.Failure to get oxygen to infant in time during childbirth.
4.Failure to monitor infant heartbeat.
5.Failure to identify ,schedule and carry out an emergency c/s.
6.Failure to identify or treat umbilical cord issues or placenta issues .
These are some of the risk factors related to cerebral palsy. Keep in mind that not all infants exposed to these risk factors will develop cerebral palsy.