Patient's question:
I noticed that the little boy next door is now over 3 years old, but he still walks rather unsteadily, cannot speak, and has relatively slow reactions. I heard from others that he has cerebral palsy. The child is quite cute, and it makes me feel sorry. How does infantile cerebral palsy occur, and why does this happen?Doctor's answer:
Various abnormal conditions during pregnancy may be risk factors for cerebral palsy, such as fetal brain malformations and multiple pregnancies. The incidence of cerebral palsy in twins is six times higher than in single births. Neonatal asphyxia, birth injuries, and neonatal brain hemorrhage are also among the causes of cerebral palsy. Among the various factors in the neonatal period, premature birth and low birth weight are significant causes of cerebral palsy. The lower the birth weight, the greater the chance of developing cerebral palsy. Approximately half of all children with cerebral palsy today are caused by premature birth. Severe neonatal jaundice, which can lead to bilirubin encephalopathy, can also cause cerebral palsy. Other causes include neonatal infections and brain tissue damage. Currently, about one-quarter of children with cerebral palsy cannot have their cause identified.