What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

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More than 800,000 people suffer from cerebral palsy in the United States alone.  A motor and nerve condition, cerebral palsy can cause a host of physical and mental disabilities in those who suffer from it  Anybody who has cerebral palsy, or cares for somebody with the condition, will have questions about the affliction.  Questions like: What causes this condition? Are there different causes of cerebral palsy?Can it be caused at different times?

Although there are questions that are unanswered, even today, doctors, and researchers agree that there are a number of different causes of cerebral palsy:

• Causes before birth . About 75 percent of people with cp contracted the condition in the womb. Even though there are several theories, those in the the health industry remain unsure of what causes cerebral palsy to form while the child is still in the womb. Some have linked the condition with the mother having an contagion during the pregnancy. Others believe that cerebral palsy is tied with the presence of a vanishing twin that does not live through the pregnancy.

• Causes during birth . It is estimated that five to ten percent of those with cp have suffered an injury during birth. Some of these birth injuries that caused cerebral palsy could have been prevented.  If labor goes on for too long, or if the baby does not have a sufficient supply of oxygen during the birth, it could result in cerebral palsy.More specifically, this birth injury could occur if doctors and nurses leave the baby in the birth canal for too long, if doctors do not order a caesarean quick enough, if there is incorrect use of the vacuum extractor, if forceps are used incorrectly, or delayed reaction by doctors to slowed fetal heart rate.

• Causes after birth . Almost 15 percent of people with cerebral palsy contracted the disorder in their first couple years of their life. for some cases, cp is caused by a brain injury from a vehicle accident, child abuse, or other trauma. In other cases, cp is caused by diseases including meningitis, encephalitis, or a host of other bacterial or viral brain infections.

As you can see, there are not only several different causes for cerebral palsy, but also several varied times when it can develop.  With issues of birth injury, it is  important to survey the situation to be certain that it was not the result of medical malpractice or negligence.  If it is determined to have been prevented by proper medical care, then the parents of the child could be eligible to receive damages for their family. Cerebral Palsy help can be unbelievably expensive, and these damages can be important for the long term care of their child.  To be certain, any parent of a child with cp who believes their child might have been the victim of a preventable birth injury is encourages to contact a qualified cerebral palsy attorney.