Cerebral palsy within the first 2 or 3 years of life
Some children develop cerebral palsy (CP) because they experience brain damage within the first 2 or 3 years of life. Risk factors for brain damage include:
- Serious illness. Severe jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia), meningitis, or severe lead poisoning (very rare) all can interfere with brain development and lead to CP.
- Serious brain injury. An accident or fall can injure the brain. This type of injury also can result from shaking, throwing, or slamming down a baby (shaken baby syndrome, also called intentional head injury or IHI).
- Lack of oxygen to brain tissues. Insufficient oxygen delivery to the brain can cause CP, such as the result of a brain tumor or a near-drowning incident.
- Low blood sugar. Some newborns with severe low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) may develop CP.
| Author: | Sabra L. Katz-Wise Ralph Poore | Last Updated: November 20, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics | |
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