Patient's question:
My daughter has suffered from cerebral palsy since she was a child. She has always developed poorly. Now that she is 5 years old, she can only call "Mom" and "Dad." She has seen many doctors, but there has been no significant improvement. What are the causes of fetal cerebral palsy?Doctor's answer:
The occurrence of cerebral palsy is usually caused by damage to the fetal brain during pregnancy and delivery. Some cases occur after birth. There are many factors that can lead to cerebral palsy. However, the cause of cerebral palsy in many children remains unclear. It is now known that premature birth before 37 weeks is the greatest risk factor. Other risk factors include thyroid disease in pregnant women, placental abnormalities, preeclampsia with hypertension and proteinuria, as well as certain bacterial and viral infections. Fetal abnormalities include congenital and genetic defects, low birth weight, intrauterine growth restriction, such as twin or multiple pregnancies, infections, and chronic hypoxia during delivery.