How Brain Infections Lead to Cerebral Palsy
Brain injury or infections that take place during the development of the growing foetus or newborn can lead to cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy or CP is an umbrella term that covers a category of non-contagious, non-progressive motor conditions that leads to physical disability in the development of a human being, mainly in the various parts of body movement.
Sadly, doctors have not yet figured out the causes of brain injury, but medical experts are aware of the risk factors that can contribute to this condition.
Some of the risk factors that can contribute to giving birth to a child with cerebral palsy include:
Maternal Infections
The possibility of giving birth to a baby with cerebral palsy increases 9 times if the expectant mother gets an infection during the period of her pregnancy. A couple of infections include:
- Bloodstream infection such as Sepsis
- UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)
- Toxoplasmosis
- Rubella
- Infection of the kidney or bladder
- A uterus infection known as “Chorioamnionitis”
A pregnant woman can avoid getting infections. If maternal infections are left untreated, it can lead to the baby developing CP. If you are pregnant and think that you may have some sort of infection, visit your doctor immediately in order to get treatment.
Prenatal Infections and Complications
The risk of having a baby with cerebral palsy increases when the mother has as infection during prenatal care:
- Group B herpes
- Bacterial meningitis
- Sepsis
- Viral encephalitis
- Severe Jaundice
- Rh incompatibility
- Group B streptococcal infection
It is quite hard to know actually how these complications cause CP. There are actual facts that show that prenatal infections can cause premature labour and delivery. Additional proof shows that infections lead to brain damage which basically may lead to disability.
Premature Birth
Giving birth to a baby prior to 37 weeks of development will increase the risk of CP. Premature babies are much more defenceless than infants of the regular term and may possibly experience more complications health wise and will need to be hospitalized.
Birth Injuries and Medical Malpractice
Not every case of CP is inherited. There are cases where a baby suffers brain damage to the brain during the actual delivery which resulted in CP. Birth injuries can and ought to be prevented. However, birth injuries do happen and the following are examples of procedures that once ignored, can cause brain infection or injury:
- Use medical tools (such as forceps) the right way
- A caesarean section done within a timely manner
- Treat jaundice (immediately) in the newborn
- Identify and quickly act upon foetal distress
- Ensure that there is adequate oxygen to give
- Maternal infections diagnosed and immediately treated
No doctor willingly commits medical malpractice, but what families must face caused by a doctor’s negligence is quite unfair. Bringing up a child with CP can be very financially challenging for any parent. It is important to visit doctors that are qualified and known to pay adequate attention to their patient’s needs.
Author likes to read and submit articles about health, child health to be specific.You can visit About Cerebral Palsy to know more about how Lawyers who are also doctors can help you with the cerebral palsy case.
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