Cerebral: Causes

A child with cerebral palsy has special needs and the severity of their condition will determine how much care a child requires. More often than not children need wheelchairs, they go through many surgeries and they go through different kinds of therapy such as physical, occupational and speech therapy. Meeting the needs of a child that has cerebral palsy can be financially overbearing and parents need to be aware that they can get support from local, national, or non-profit organizations in their area. However parents may, also, be entitled to other compensation through a lawsuit if there was medical malpractice involved.

Was Your Child Harmed by Medical Malpractice?

Cerebral Palsy is caused by brain damage before or during child birth. Many factors contribute to the development of cerebral palsy. Possibilities that can contribute to this are infections to newborns, low birth weight, jaundice, seizures, just to name a few. On the other hand there are a small percentage of children with cerebral palsy that is caused by medical malpractice that could have been prevented such as complications during delivery or lack of oxygen.

Medical professionals are to respond to any complications promptly and they should take the proper precautions to reduce risks to the child and mother. This is not always possible and medical professionals can and do fail in this commitment and the results can be devastating. They need to be held responsible for the damages that are suffered.

A Cerebral Palsy Lawyer Can Help

The treatment of a child with cerebral palsy can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars throughout their life. If medical malpractice is responsible for the state of your child, a cerebral palsy lawyer can help you to obtain the necessary money to provide the care of your child.

It is important to note that the cases of medical malpractice are prone to a statute of the limitations. This means that a non-negotiable deadline will apply to the classification of your lawsuit, if you are eligible. To ensure your rights are fully protected, you should contact a lawyer as soon as you suspect that your child has cerebral palsy due to medical malpractice.

David Austin is an Attorney focused on complex injury cases. You can learn more about Cerebral Palsy Children at his website, Burke-Eisner.com

Pregnancy - What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy results from damage to certain parts of the developing brain which can occur early in pregnancy when the brain is just starting to form (in about 75 percent of cases), during the birth process as the child passes through the birth canal (in about 5 percent of cases), or after birth in the first few years of life (in about 15 percent of cases). The exact cause of the brain damage is generally never known. Cerebral palsy is not genetic or hereditary.

Following are risk factors for cerebral palsy:

Premature deliveries. Between 40- to 50-percent of children who develop cerebral palsy were born prematurely. Premature infants are at higher risk because their organs are not yet fully developed, thus increasing the risk of asphyxia and other injury to the brain. Low birth weight from premature births or infants of multiple births is also a risk factor for cerebral palsy.

Periventricular leukomalacia. An important cause of cerebral palsy is periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) which is characterized by the death of the white matter near the cerebral ventricles due to softening of the brain tissue. It can affect fetuses or newborns. Premature babies are at the greatest risk of the disorder.

Infections during pregnancy. Infections in the mother, even infections that are not easily detected, may triple the risk of the child developing the disorder, mainly as the result of toxicity to the fetal brain of cytokines that are produced as part of the inflammatory response.

After birth, causes of cerebral palsy include toxins, severe jaundice, lead poisoning, physical brain injury, shaken baby syndrome, incidents involving hypoxia to the brain (such as near drowning), encephalitis, or meningitis. The three most common causes of asphyxia in the young child are: choking on foreign objects such as toys and pieces of food, poisoning, and near drowning.

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At http://www.myguidesusa.com you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life's major events. Whether you're planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you'll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.

Find information on the causes and risk factors of cerebral palsy, symptoms and types of cerebral palsy, diagnosing cerebral palsy, and treatment and care of cerebral palsy at http://cerebralpalsy.myguidesusa.com and tips and resources for becoming a parent at http://becomingaparent.myguidesusa.com

martedì 31 maggio 2011

State Some Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Many parents are happiest when they see their child for the first time right after its birth. No other moment is more scared than this. However, while some parents rejoice at the birth of their child other parents are crest fallen and dejected because their newborn child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The question why does only my baby have cerebral palsy is in the minds of these affected parents. There is only one simple answer, which every physician gives to these anxious parents. Your child has brain damage!

Parents will then ask the next question to their doctor and that is "Why does my baby have brain damage in the first place?" Well the simple answer to both these questions would be children could get brain damage due to many causes and reasons. However, the main cause of cerebral palsy would be damage to the brain.

The brain consists of numerous tiny cells, which perform a number of actions. The brain is the smartest computer on earth and no other computer which is man made can compete with this tiny soft tissue of hundreds of cells. The brain is the authority, which gives commands to different parts of the body to perform different actions. When the part of the brain, which is in control of the muscles in the limbs, is damaged then the child develops cerebral palsy. There fore the main cause of cerebral palsy is damage to the brain. Injury to parts of the baby's brain while it is still in the womb, while being delivered, or just after birth can lead to cerebral palsy in the child.

The tissues and cells in the brain of an infant before and after it is born is very delicate. The brain needs oxygen to survive and develop. If it is denied the oxygen, it needs then the cells can die a natural death leading to cerebral palsy in the child. This can happen when the umbilical cord connecting the unborn baby and mother becomes coiled around the baby's neck causing an insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain of the infant. Some babies fail to get the desired volume of oxygen due to their mother's high blood pressure. This also can cause cerebral palsy by damaging certain cells in the brain.

Medical mistakes are also another major cause for cerebral palsy in babies and children. This usually happens during and after birth. Moms to be should also abstain from alcoholic drinks, drugs and any other injurious medicines that can lead to lack of brain development in the unborn child in the womb. These are some of the major causes of cerebral palsy in children. While most parents find it difficult to find out what exactly caused cerebral palsy in their children, researchers are trying their best to determine exact causes too. Researchers have found that birth trauma could be a major cause of thousands of children suffering from cerebral palsy. This has led to more research so that exact causes of cerebral palsy can be determined.

Melvin Kops, the author of many articles regarding health, nutrition and medicine is an expert in his field. Well qualified in medicine, Kops has been writing about various diseases, their causes and their possible cures. Having a keen interest in writing, Kops has coupled his knowledge of medicine with his flair of writing to dispense information about various diseases and cures.

martedì 24 maggio 2011

Causes, Signs, Symptoms and Treatment of Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is an abnormality in moving and controlling movements; it is acquired at an early age and is caused by brain damage that makes it non-progressive. It is thought that about one in 500 children in the UK has some form of cerebral palsy.

The causes of cerebral palsy are many. It usually results from some damage to certain parts of the developing brain in infants. This damage to the brain generally occurs early in the pregnancy, when the brain is starting to form. However, it can also occur after birth or in the first few years of the life of a child. Various problems during birth, specifically inadequate oxygen, are root cause of cerebral palsy. So, it can occur before birth (prenatal), during birth or after birth (post natal).

Some of the cases of cerebral palsy are listed below;

? Infection, seizure disorder, thyroid disorder in the mother.

? Birth defects, especially those affecting the brain, spinal cord, head and lungs.

? Rh factor incompatibility, which is basically a difference in the blood between mother and the foetus that can cause brain damage in the foetus

? Certain hereditary and genetic conditions

? Premature birth

? Low birth weight (especially if less than 2 pounds at birth)

? Severe jaundice after birth

? Multiple births (twins, triplets)

There are innumerable symptoms of cerebral palsy, but unfortunately, the symptoms of this disease do not manifest in the early infancy. They begin to be obvious as the child matures. The problems and disabilities, associated with cerebral palsy, range from very mild to very severe. This range varies according to the brain damage. The symptoms may be very subtle and noticeable only to medical professionals. The symptoms include:

? Delay in controlling head, rolling over, sitting without support, crawling or walking.

? Limbs may be held in very unusual or awkward positions. For example, spastic leg muscles may cause legs to cross in a scissor-like position.

? The limb movement of the child may be abnormal, either unusually jerky or abrupt.

? Some of the children suffering from cerebral-palsy may be mentally retarded.

? About one third of the children with cerebral-palsy have seizures.

? The children might have speech problems and difficulty in speaking.

? A child with cerebral-palsy may not respond to sounds or have vision problems.

The vision problems include weakness of eye muscles. In addition to this, dental problems can also be associated with cerebral-palsy.

You need to monitor your child carefully to see if he shows any signs of cerebral-palsy, especially if he was born prematurely, had a low birth weight, or was subject to certain complications of pregnancy, labour or delivery. In case of a sign of any of the following, visit the health care provider of your child. The signs for which you need to be cautious are;

? Frequent seizures. The movements of child seem unusually jerky, abrupt and uncoordinated.

? Your child does not blink in response to loud noises by age 1 month, or turn his head towards the sound by 4 months

? Your child does not sit up unsupported by age 7 months.

? Your child does not say words by age 12 months.

? One eye of your child is turned inward or outward.

? There is some sort of abnormality in the walking style of your child.

Find more about Cerebral palsy here.

lunedì 23 maggio 2011

What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

It is not surprising to many people when they hear that thousands of babies born all over the globe are affected by cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is certainly not a contagious disease as some people think it to be. Moreover, it is certainly not a byproduct of this new world filled with technological advancements. It has been around for centuries, and only in 1861, did physicians begin their study of this disorder.

A child struck by this disorder in their early years of life can be distinguished from other normal children of the same age by the stiff muscles in both their arms and legs, which prevent them from crawling, walking and even from trying to grasp their toys or any other objects. Cerebral palsy means disorder of the part of the brain which causes muscles to become weak. There is no muscle coordination at all and this prevents them from changing their body positions with ease.

Cerebral palsy happens when the brain, which gives out commands to the body to perform certain actions, gets affected. Depending upon the part of the brain that gets affected, cerebral palsy in children can vary. While some children may find it difficult to walk, others may find it difficult to talk, eat, or even play. The causes of Cerebral Palsy remain a mystery to most in the medical field. It is possible that babies can be subject to injuries to their brain especially if they are premature especially when they are being delivered. The heads of these babies will often be soft and tender and needs to be handled careful. Either any force used by hands or any instruments like forceps can cause grievous injuries to the baby's brain. Even those babies that are put on ventilators to breathe are at risk of contracting cerebral palsy.

Causes of Cerebral palsy are mostly due to brain injury either before birth, during birth or just shortly after birth. A number of factors can cause cerebral palsy. However, two important problems are determined to be the main causes of cerebral palsy. The first cause is brain damage where the brain has failed to develop to its full potential. The second cause is damage to the developing brain. Bleeding in the brain can also cause this disorder in a newborn baby especially a premature one. At times, some babies fail to get the desired oxygen their brain needs while they are still in their mother's stomach or just after their birth. The severity of the brain damage is directly related to the length of time the baby goes without oxygen.

Other causes of cerebral palsy in a child will be when the pregnant mother happens to contract any other infections or diseases like rubella, herpes simplex etc. Most of these infections can cause damage to the fetal brain during its development stage. In addition, mothers who have high risks like blood pressure, diabetes and incompatible blood type can also be responsible of their babies having cerebral palsy. Research is still being conducted on what exactly causes cerebral palsy in children.

Melvin Kops, the author of many articles regarding health, nutrition and medicine is an expert in his field. Well qualified in medicine, Kops has been writing about various diseases like cerebral palsy their causes and their possible cures. Having a keen interest in writing, Kops has coupled his knowledge of medicine with his flair of writing to dispense information about various diseases and cures.

Cerebral Palsy - Causes, Types and Treatment

"Cerebral" is medical terminology for the brain. "Palsy" means a disorder of movement or posture. So in simple terms, Cerebral Palsy (CP) describes a group of conditions where movement and posture are affected as a result of damage to one or more areas of the brain. Cerebral palsy is characterized by an inability to fully control motor function, particularly muscle control and coordination.

Depending on which areas of the brain have been damaged, one or more of the following may also be present although every person with CP is affected in a different way:

Balance and coordination problems
Difficulty controlling and maintaining posture (help required to sit upright)
Epilepsy - Up to one in three children with CP also have epilepsy.
Difficulty eating and drinking (swallowing) and talking
Learning difficulties

Cerebral Palsy is the most common childhood physical disability. Around one in every 400 children born in developed countries has CP. In the United States, it is estimated that some 764,000 children and adults exhibit one or more of the symptoms of Cerebral Palsy. Around 8,000 babies and infants are newly diagnosed with the condition each year. Despite medical advances, incidence has not declined over the last 60 years.

Often the exact cause of a child developing Cerebral Palsy is not known, but contributing factors can include infections such as meningitis, bleeding into the brain, pressure or blows to the head and lack of oxygen. These may have occurred before, during or after birth and the severity of the cause will affect the severity of the damage caused to the brain. For example, each minute that a baby is deprived of oxygen during a difficult delivery will increase the extent of brain damage caused.

Cerebral Palsy is classified into three main types; Spastic, Athetoid and Ataxic. Those with Spastic CP have muscles that are weak, tight or stiff making it difficult for the person to make controlled movements. Those with stiff or tight muscles will find it difficult to fully extend arms and legs, while those with weak muscles may be unable to stand unaided. Spastic Cerebral Palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy, accounting for nearly 80 percent of all cerebral palsy cases.

Athetoid Cerebral Palsy is caused by damage to the cerebellum or basal ganglia. These two areas of the brain work in opposition to create smooth, coordinated movements as well as maintaining body posture. Damage to one or both of these areas creates an imbalance that may cause a child to develop involuntary, uncoordinated movements, especially in the face, arms, and trunk. Secondary problems with eating, speaking, picking up objects may also result from the imbalance. Approximately 10% of those with Cerebral Palsy are Athetoid.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy is characterised by low muscle tone and poor coordination of movements. Ataxic children look very unsteady and shaky and have a disturbed sense of balance and depth perception. This is particularly apparent when walking which is unsteady and can resemble an intoxicated adult. Ataxic children can also suffer from shaky hands which make it difficult to hold a pencil and write.

Although Cerebral Palsy is not progressive (the brain damage does not get worse) and there is no cure (brain damage can not be repaired), tight, stiff or weak muscles will become increasingly so as the child gets older without therapy or treatment and in severe cases surgery. As a result, the child will inevitably become more dependant on their parent or carer and less able to lead any sort of independent life. Appropriate and regular therapy provided from an early age can significantly improve mobility and coordination abilities, independence and quality of life.

Sally Aspinall is founder and director of the Cerebral Palsy Physiotherapy Centre, the only centre of its kind in the UK providing therapy and treatment to cerebral palsy and brain injured children and adults from around the world. Sally can be contacted via the CPPC website or email sallyaspinall@cppcltd.co.uk

venerdì 20 maggio 2011

What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

Babies are coming into this world every minute of the day. While some are born healthy there are a few who are born with some defect or the other. One of the most common is Cerebral Palsy. Many parents are unaware of what cerebral palsy is or what exactly causes it. Parents who are blessed with babies who do not have this condition do not care to know about it. However, others have babies who are born with cerebral palsy, and would like to know what exactly the causes of cerebral palsy are. They want to know how this condition affects their child and what they can do about it.

What is cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy is a condition in which the brain of a child gets damaged at the time of birth or even before it. Many parents wonder why only their child is stricken with cerebral palsy while others are not. What they do not understand is while other kids have not sustained any brain damage their child might have. Cerebral means brain and palsy means a disorder, which affects the movement of the limbs. A child who is affected by this disorder will find it difficult to move around as they begin to grow and show signs of impairment in sight, hearing and even speech. Therefore, if you happen to notice that your child is showing signs of difficulty in hearing, recognizing and seeing things and seems to have a slow speech then you can be sure that your child is having this disorder.

Many parents wonder why only their child is prone to cerebral palsy. Many causes can be attributed to this disorder in children. The main cause of cerebral palsy is brain damage. Moreover, there are many causes for brain damage occurring in a child during pregnancy, before or even after birth. It rests entirely on the physician to determine the exact cause that lead to this condition where the brain became damaged.

Many doctors are still trying to determine the exact causes for brain damage in a child. They feel that damage to the brain could have occurred at any period during the growth of the baby in the womb or could be attributed to pregnancy disorders or even during or after birth.

Some of the causes of Cerebral palsy, which are attributed to this disorder, are infection during the pregnancy term, disease like jaundice affecting the mother, kidney and urinary tract infections. If there is shortage of oxygen to the baby's brain during birth or injury to the baby's brain during delivery, or even bleeding in the infant's brain just after delivery then also cerebral palsy can occur in the child. Another factor that causes cerebral palsy in a child is Rh incompatibility in the parents. Consumption of alcohol and drugs by the mother during pregnancy can severely affect the brain development in a child during pregnancy and cause cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy in an infant can occur at any stage before, during and after birth. So it is important that pregnant mothers take careful precautions during their pregnancy period so that their child is safe from this disorder. But there are some cases where due to any mishaps that occur during delivery can also cause brain damage or cerebral palsy in the child.

Cerebral Palsy and Its Causes

Cerebral Palsy is a term given to a condition that results from a brain injury; or an abnormality that might have occurred during the foetal development, or at the time of birth. At times, this might occur within the initial months of the life of the infant or immediately after birth.

Even though medical science has advanced to a very high level, doctors have yet not fully understood the causes of early brain damage. However, some of the identified causes of cerebral palsy are listed below:

The maternal infections tend to increase the risks of cerebral palsy to a great extent and this may also include the urinary tract infections, bladder or kidney infections, and rubella, sepsis i.e. an infection of the blood stream, uterus infection and toxoplasmosis. It is believed that all maternal infections can be prevented and dealt with, so as to avoid the occurrence of cerebral palsy. Hence, all pregnant women are advised to seek medical treatment from their gynaecologist to avoid such risks.

Prenatal or neonatal infections too have the potential to augment the risk of cerebral-palsy. These are inclusive of bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis, Group B streptococcal infection, Herpes Group B and sepsis. The direct affect of these infections have not been verified yet, but these prenatal infections may result in preterm birth which poses a risk of developing cerebral-palsy. These infections may also result in brain damage; RH incompatibility and jaundice may also add to the causes of cerebral-palsy.

Premature birth and low birth weight increase the risks of cerebral-palsy to a great extent. Babies who are born before the expected time are highly vulnerable and it is more likely that they suffer through various health complications. Stress, infections, preterm labour and multiple births; smoking and alcohol usage; and uterine infections may also contribute to the occurrence of cerebral-palsy.

Cerebral palsy may also occur due to the failure of the medical staff in preventing a birth injury. This includes the misdiagnosis and maltreatment of maternal infections; the failure of recognition of foetal distress; not being able to perform a C-section in an organized and timely manner; not treating jaundice and not ensuring sufficient oxygen supply. It also includes the failure of proper use of medical equipments like forceps.

Medical malpractice can be highly devastating as it might be a probable cause of cerebral palsy; therefore, it is advised to file a lawsuit, so as to be able to acquire compensation for the treatment costs and other losses as well.

Lastly, if you had a complicated labour and your newborn infant is found to be suffering from cerebral palsy, you are suggested to file for compensation of medical malpractice as the financial help would make the alleged doctor realize the extent of his/her negligence and in the future, he/she should be diligent while performing his/her duty of care. It would also give you an instinctive satisfaction by making the responsible person suffer for the suffering, pain and loss that you and your child have gone through.

Cerebral palsy
Find more about Cerebral palsy here.

giovedì 12 maggio 2011

Causes Of Cerebral Palsy

It has been found that seven out of 10 cerebral palsy cases resulted from events that occurred before birth. Such occurrences prevent the normal development of the brain. However, in several cases, it is difficult to pinpoint the actual cause of cerebral palsy.

There are six known causes of cerebral palsy. The first one is infections during pregnancy. Some of the infections acquired by mothers such as German measles and viral infection can contribute to cerebral palsy. These infections involve the placental membranes.

Another common cause of cerebral palsy is insufficient oxygen reaching the fetus. This has been the most common cause of cerebral palsy even though it only accounts for less than 10 percent of the reported cases. This happens when the placenta malfunctions, thereby leading to a disruption in the delivery of oxygen to the fetus.

Premature babies are also more susceptible to cerebral palsy. They are found to be 30 times more likely to develop cerebral palsy compared to normal babies. When bleeding in the brain develops in premature babies, destruction in the nerves that carry oxygen may occur and can eventually develop to cerebral palsy.

Excessive blood loss and lack of oxygen during delivery can also cause cerebral palsy. However, this accounts for less than 10 percent of the total number of cerebral palsy cases.

When the blood of the mother is incompatible with that of the fetus, cerebral palsy can also result. Such a disease is termed Rh disease. It can cause severe jaundice and brain damage. This can be prevented by injecting the mother with a blood product called Rh immune globulin. Blood clotting in either the mother or the fetus may also heigh10 the risk of acquiring cerebral palsy.

Lastly, cerebral palsy can also occur after birth when the child obtains brain injuries during his or her first two years of life. Examples of such injuries are brain infections such as meningitis. Almost 10 percent of the children with cerebral palsy acquire the illness after birth.

Cerebral Palsy provides detailed information on Cerebral Palsy, Spastic Cerebral Palsy, Cerebral Palsy Physical Therapy, Athetoid Cerebral Palsy and more. Cerebral Palsy is affiliated with Multiple Sclerosis Treatments.