Is Cerebral Palsy Contagious?

Question

A neighbor’s child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, unable to speak or walk. Is this disease contagious and can it be transmitted to other children?

Answer

Cerebral palsy is a non-contagious condition caused by abnormal brain development or brain damage before, during, or shortly after birth. Therefore, it cannot be transmitted to others through everyday contact. The treatment of cerebral palsy usually requires individualized treatment plans, including multidisciplinary rehabilitation training. For older patients, the effectiveness of treatment may be relatively poor, but rehabilitation training should still be conducted. If certain issues affect rehabilitation training or the growth and development of the child, surgical intervention may be required, followed by continued rehabilitation training.