Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that develop during childhood which impact coordination and movement. Between 2 and 3 out of every 1,000 children has cerebral palsy in the United States and Europe, according to cerebralpalsy.org.

Maternal Illnesses

A number of maternal illnesses that occur during pregnancy contribute to cerebral palsy, including rubella, chickenpox, a flu-like virus called cytomegalovirus and syphilis. In addition, a parasitic infection called toxoplasmosis spread through cat feces also has the potential to cause cerebral palsy.

Childhood Illnesses

Some childhood illnesses and conditions also cause cerebral palsy when they occur during the first few months of life. These include meningitis, encephalitis, strokes and severe jaundice.

Other Causes

Cerebral palsy can also be caused by defects in the brain that are present at birth in some children. Additionally, a lack of oxygen during delivery causes a small number of cerebral palsy cases.

Risks

Risk factors that increase a baby's likelihood of developing cerebral palsy include premature birth, low birth weight, breech position in the womb, being a twin or another type of multiple-birth child and exposure to mercury in the womb. In addition, mothers who have thyroid problems, mental retardation or seizure disorders like epilepsy also are at an increased risk for having a child with cerebral palsy.

Prevention

In many cases, cerebral palsy cannot be prevented; however, a mother who ensures she is vaccinated for all infectious diseases like chicken pox and who receives early and regular prenatal care can help to prevent some of the causes of cerebral palsy, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Source

Mayo Clinic: Cerebral Palsy

CerebralPalsy.org