Question

Six months after my daughter was born, I noticed that she behaves differently from other children. She only looks in one direction, cannot turn her head, cannot lift her head, her limbs are not flexible, and she cannot grasp objects or suck her fingers. What are the causes of pediatric cerebral palsy?

Answer

The causes of pediatric cerebral palsy mainly include the following points:

  1. Congenital Jaundice: Most infants may go through a jaundice process after birth. However, if treatment is not timely, bilirubin may enter the central nervous system, especially in areas such as the basal ganglia, hypothalamus nuclei, and caudate nucleus, which may lead to kernicterus, intellectual disability, or cerebral palsy.
  2. Prenatal Factors: The main cause of pediatric cerebral palsy is prenatal factors, including congenital brain maldevelopment. Common causes include maternal infections such as rubella in the first three months of pregnancy.
  3. Birth-related Causes: Another cause of pediatric cerebral palsy is related to birth, including birth injuries and brain damage caused by hypoxia. This situation accounts for 37% of the causes of cerebral palsy. The use of forceps to forcibly pull the fetal head may lead to cervical vein rupture and intracranial hemorrhage. Based on your description, it is recommended to consult a professional doctor as soon as possible to determine if your child has cerebral palsy so that appropriate treatment and rehabilitation plans can be implemented.