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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffMost children with cerebral palsy don't have any apparent problems during development in the womb and birth. But some factors may increase the risk of cerebral palsy:
- Premature birth. A normal pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. Babies who are born less than 37 weeks into the pregnancy are at higher risk of cerebral palsy. The earlier the baby is born, the greater the risk of cerebral palsy.
- Low birth weight. Babies who weigh less than 5.5 pounds (2.5 kilograms) are at higher risk of developing cerebral palsy. This risk increases as birth weight falls.
- Breech births. Babies who are in a feet-first position (breech presentation) at the beginning of labor are more likely to have cerebral palsy.
- Multiple babies. The risk of cerebral palsy increases with the number of babies sharing the uterus. If one or more of the other babies die, the chances that the survivors may develop cerebral palsy increase.
- Toxic substances. Babies whose mothers were exposed to toxins, such as mercury, during pregnancy are at higher risk of having cerebral palsy.
- Mother's health. Women who have thyroid problems, mental retardation or seizures are at higher risk of having a baby with cerebral palsy.
References
- Cerebral palsy: Hope through research. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/detail_cerebral_palsy.htm. Accessed Sept. 2, 2008.
- Miller G. Epidemiology and etiology of cerebral palsy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 2, 2008.
- Miller G. Clinical features and diagnosis of cerebral palsy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 3, 2008.
- Parmet S, et al. JAMA patient page: Chickenpox. Journal of the American Medical Association. Accessed Sept. 4, 2008.
- Neurological consequences of cytomegalovirus infection information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cytomegalic/cytomegalic.htm. Accessed Sept. 4, 2008.
- Toxoplasmosis: Pregnant women. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/toxoplasmosis/pregnant.html. Accessed Sept. 4, 2008.
- CDC fact sheet: Syphilis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/std/Syphilis/syphilis-fact-sheet.pdf. Accessed Sept. 4, 2008.
- Meningitis and encephalitis fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/encephalitis_meningitis/detail_encephalitis_meningitis.htm. Accessed Sept. 4, 2008.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Sept. 4, 2008.
- Miller G. Management and prognosis of cerebral palsy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 5, 2008.
