Question
A neighbor’s child was born with amniotic fluid turbidity, and the doctor recommended a cesarean section, but the mother insisted on a natural delivery. The child was born with blue all over the body and spent over a week in an incubator. Now, three months old, the child still lacks strength throughout the body, raising suspicions of cerebral palsy.
Answer
The main causes of cerebral palsy include prematurity, congenital injury, perinatal asphyxia, and kernicterus. Infections such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, herpes simplex virus, and Epstein-Barr virus during pregnancy may affect the fetus through the placenta, leading to congenital infections and malformations, which can trigger cerebral palsy. The main characteristics of cerebral palsy are central motor impairments and postural abnormalities, often accompanied by various disabilities such as intelligence, vision and hearing, eating, swallowing, speaking, and behavior, severely affecting the child’s life. It is recommended to seek timely medical attention for newborns with these symptoms.