Health experts consider cerebral palsy (CP) as one of the most common motor conditions in babies and children. It is so common that about 1.5 to 4 out of 1,000 children suffer from it.
There are many different factors that can lead to cerebral palsy, which can develop during pregnancy, during the birthing process, or right after the birthing process. In many cases, though, it can occur due to careless medical negligence and errors.
Infections
Infections that develop during pregnancy may have a damaging effect on the nervous system of a fetus. These infections include German measles or rubella; cytomegalovirus, a type of herpes; and toxoplasmosis, a type of infection brought about by a parasite present in cat excrements or improperly cooked meat.
Severe jaundice
Severe jaundice can also cause CP in infants. Extremely high levels of bilirubin in the blood cause jaundice, characterized by the yellowing of certain body parts, like the skin and the eyes. Although some infants may have jaundice because their livers do not function properly right away, they should undergo light therapy to clear up the problem, which can heave long-term effects. Left untreated and long-term damage to the brain cells can occur.
Trauma
The birthing process itself is a physical and metabolic kind of trauma. This can lead to the fetus developing brain damage, especially when threats to the health of the fetus occurred throughout the development process.
Medical negligence
Attorneys at tyronelaw.com are familiar with medical negligence cases. Medical errors and negligence can lead to the infant suffering from severe oxygen deprivation during the labor and delivery process. This can cause CP at birth, and the attending medical professionals may face liabilities due to their negligence and mistakes.
Knowing what the causes of cerebral palsy at birth will help you avoid and prevent them, and in the event that medical negligence is the culprit, the attending physician and his staff may be liable for damages.