Cerebral Palsy in the Newborn
inWhere serious medical conditions are concerned, identifying them in infants can be very difficult. Infants, obviously, cannot communicate enough to tell anyone what's wrong and, in some cases, it's only much later that any problems they may have come to light. This includes cerebral palsy, a birth injury that takes many different forms and that results in a lifelong condition. The muscles are principally affected by this disorder, and movement becomes very difficult. Some children with this disorder also suffer learning disabilities as well as speech and hearing problems.
What Causes Cerebral Palsy?
inCerebral palsy can be the result of natural causes or birth trauma. In either case, the baby's brain is starved of oxygen. This results in a specific type of damage to the brain. It is permanent and involves control of the muscles, and can also include some other effects. Cerebral palsy can be difficult to recognize in infants. The symptoms are very physical, and since an infant isn't immediately taxing their muscles, it sometimes takes a while before it's obvious that there's a problem. Cerebral palsy can affect all of the muscles, from the face to the feet.
Causes of Cerebral Palsy in Infants
inSome infants are born with cerebral palsy simply due to natural causes. There are cases, however, when various forms of baby brain damage can be caused by negligence on the part of healthcare providers. Cerebral palsy is a result of the brain being starved of oxygen. This may occur due to a mishap in the birthing process, or due to the medical staff not providing the level of care required. When an infant suffers such a disorder, the results are lifelong and the treatments will be expensive. In severe cases, lifetime care may be required.