Cerebral Palsy: Understanding the Major Causes and Risk Factors

Approximately 4 out of every 1000 children have Cerebral Palsy (CP) — a neurological disorder that impairs a child’s muscle movement, muscle tone, coordination, and motor skills. CP is the most common cause of motor disabilities in children, and its onset is typically observed during pregnancy and up to a week after birth. 

Before we delve into the causes of CP and the factors that increase the risk, let us first read about the symptoms. 

Symptoms It is pertinent to mention that symptoms of CP are subjective — two children may exhibit vastly different symptoms and issues. Moreover, the severity may vary depending on the part of the brain that has been affected. 

Even though symptoms of CP can differ, these are some of the most common signs: 

● Delay in reaching motor skill milestones (rolling over, sitting up unaided, or crawling) 

● Stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes 

● Lack of muscle coordination 

● Tremors 

● Excessive drooling and problems with swallowing 

● Difficulty walking 

● Neurological problems, such as seizures, intellectual disabilities, and blindness 

Apart from these, depending on its seriousness, CP can also lead to medical conditions such as problems with hearing, vision, and speech. 

Causes We know that CP occurs due to abnormal brain development or injury to the brain — while the baby is in the uterus or just after birth. It can even happen during labor or delivery. In the majority of cases, while the exact cause remains unknown, these are some of the factors that can lead to CP: 

● Gene mutations that result in abnormal development 

● Maternal infections that impair the developing fetus 

● Fetal stroke, a disruption of blood supply to the developing brain 

● Bleeding in the brain as a fetus or as a newborn 

● Infant infections that lead to inflammation in or around the brain 

● A traumatic head injury to an infant due to an accident or a fall 

● Lack of oxygen to the brain due to a difficult labor or delivery 

Risk factors In addition to the causes listed above, there are a number of factors that may increase the chances of CP. Let’s delve deeper. 

Complications at birth Certain complications during the delivery process increase the chances of developing CP. They include: 

● Low weight at birth 

● Prematurity 

● Medical issues caused by Infertility treatments 

● Medical conditions of the mother — disorders of the thyroid or proclivity to seizures 

● Lack of oxygen during the delivery process 

● Abnormal delivery position 

● Placental problems such as detaching it too early 

● Improper use of forceps and other birth-assisting tools 

● Membranes rupturing too early 

Fetal/Maternal infections If infections to the fetus or to the mother are not treated at the right time, there is a high risk of the child developing CP. These are some of the common infections that need immediate intervention: 

● Sexually transmitted diseases (Herpes and Syphilis) 

● Rubella (a viral infection also known as German measles) 

● High fever 

● Bacterial infections 

● Chickenpox 

Blood and Rh incompatibility Blood incompatibilities between the mother and her child can result in jaundice. This in turn can lead to a condition called Kernicterus, which causes cerebral palsy. Rh incompatibility happens when the mother is Rh-negative while the child is Rh-positive. In such a situation, the mother's body produces antibodies that attack the red blood cells of the baby — one of the causes of jaundice. While such incompatibilities don't necessarily lead to CP, the risks cannot be ignored. Ideally, if a child has jaundice, a blood test should be done to rule out these incompatibilities. 

Multiple births can cause complications that may lead to CP. These include: 

● Premature birth 

● Low weight at birth 

● Abnormal position during birth 

Fetal growth restriction Also known as Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR), occurs when the newborn falls below the normal weight percentile of 2.5 kg — causing perinatal death, or even CP. IUGR can happen due to various reasons including: 

● Maternal heart disease 

● Substance use 

● Placenta issues 

● Preeclampsia (a condition involving high blood pressure and organ damage) 

● Inadequate nutrition 

● Smoking during pregnancy 

Treatment of Cerebral Palsy While CP is a severely complex neurological disorder that is caused by a multitude of risk factors, there is some good news. The impairments caused by CP can be controlled, managed, and mitigated. The most effective methods include: 

Stem cell therapy This is a non-surgical regenerative method where stem cells that have the capacity to replace damaged cells are injected into the patient's body. 

Physiotherapy This therapy focuses on increasing the child's strength, flexibility, balance, motor development, and mobility through training and exercises. 

Occupational therapy This form of treatment aims to make the child independent by regaining control over daily activities. Occupational therapy is used to enable a child’s participation in daily activities such as eating, bathing, attending school, playing, and socializing. 

Speech and language therapy This includes improving the child's communication skills by using techniques that enhance the oral-motor functions. With the help of exercises, children are also taught to chew, eat, and drink. 

At Plexus, an award-winning Stem Cell and Neuro Centre, patients undergo the customized Regenerative Rehabilitation Therapy for the treatment of Cerebral Palsy.​The therapy is planned as per the needs and severity of the child for the best results in a minimal timeframe.