According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the CDC, cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood. Approximately 1 out of every 323 children in the United States has some form of cerebral palsy, as this is a condition that appears in different forms and that also varies in severity of symptoms. Much has been learned about cerebral palsy in recent years given its prevalence in the United States, but unfortunately to date there is no cure for this condition. Those who are diagnosed with it must simply learn to live with the challenges that it brings to daily life.
Much of what we are learning with regards to cerebral palsy involves how we can treat it, but before we can fully understand how to treat it we need to know more about what causes it in the first place. The CDC has been publishing information in this regard for years, and it is available online. One of the informational pieces that it has released to the public is an overview/fact sheet regarding the statistics relating to cerebral palsy. A link to that page can be found here.
A portion of that page is dedicated to providing information regarding the common causes of cerebral palsy, and the CDC identifies three of them specifically. Below you’ll find a brief description of each of these causes:
- Low Birth Weight and Premature Birth
There have been several potential causes of low birth weight and premature birth that have been identified, and they include multiple births and in vitro fertilization among others. There are also situations where it’s simply the mother’s history. Doctors need to do whatever they can to protect the unborn child and to prolong the pregnancy as long as possible for the sake of the child or children.
- Disruption of Blood and Oxygen to the Brain
The birth itself is a very demanding process and one that takes a lot out of both the mother and the child. One problem that can arise involves the loss of the flow of blood and oxygen to the child while being born. This can inflict serious brain damage and ultimately lead to a diagnosis of cerebral palsy because of the harm done to the brain tissue.
- Infections in Mothers
Expecting mothers need to be very careful when it comes to their health while pregnant. Certain infections can lead to irreparable harm to their children while they are in the womb. Any sign of infection needs to be treated immediately and promptly by the doctor who is overseeing the prenatal care.
The bottom line here is that there is a lot to manage and a lot to watch for while a woman is pregnant. Doctors need to be ready to handle many different situations. If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and you believe it was because of the faulty care of a doctor, contact the New York birth injury lawyers at the Fitzgerald Law Firm, P.C. today to schedule a free initial consultation.