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Overview
What Are the Warning Signs of Cerebral Palsy?Cerebral Palsy is a lifelong condition that in most cases cannot be prevented. It is not considered a disease or an illness because it can not be caught by anyone. Even though those diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy will have it for the rest of their lives, they can improve over time with the right therapies, equipment, and medications. New parents may want to check out some risk factors which can serve as small warning signs.
Identification
Cerebral Palsy is a combination of two things. First, "cerebral" comes from the word "cerebellum" which is the brain. Second, "palsy" comes from the word that means movement. People who are affected by Cerebral Palsy have trouble with movement. The injury can occur during pregnancy, during delivery, or shortly after a baby is born. It can occur as a result of trauma, infection, swelling or bleeding on the brain.
Risk Factors
There are a few general factors that put some individual more at risk for having a child with Cerebral Palsy. The first is the age of the mother. The older a woman is when she has a child, the higher her chances are that something could go wrong. Women over forty are considered to be at risk for having a child with Cerebral Palsy. A man's age also matters when it comes to risk factors. Any male under 20 years old is at risk for producing a child with Cerebral Palsy. Finally, those of the African-American nationality have been found to be more at risk for having a child with CP.
Warning Signs During Pregnancy
The number of your pregnancy plays a part is contributing to delivering a baby with Cerebral Palsy. If you are expecting your first baby, you are at risk. You are also at risk if you are expecting your fifth, sixth, or more. You are also at risk if you are found to carry more than one baby. So having twins or triplets increases your odds of having a baby with CP. Women who begin to bleed before delivery are also considered to be at a higher risk. Finally, if the mother contracts any form of a viral infection during pregnancy, her child is more at risk of being born with Cerebral Palsy.
During and After Delivery
There are several risk factors that occur during and immediately following a delivery. First, all premature births are at a higher risk of things such as Cerebral Palsy. Second, all babies that are considered to be of low birth weight are at a higher risk. Third, any baby that does not score well on the hospitals APGAR test are at risk. Fourth, babies that are born breech, or feet first, are at a higher risk. Finally, any distress that a baby experiences during a delivery such as a cord wrapped around their neck, can be a risk factor for Cerebral Palsy.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy can be made by a physician. The physician can make the diagnosis based on the symptoms exhibited by the child or through a few laboratory tests. A CAT Scan and MRI are used to tell if there are any injuries to the brain. An EEG is used to tell if there is any abnormal activity in the brain. This test is given because Cerebral Palsy patients often have seizures. Blood tests may also be ordered to make sure that there are no other causes for any of the symptoms the patient is complaining of.
