When Cerebral Palsy results from the birthing process
Cerebral Palsy remains an enigma for the scientists and physicians over the years. When someone suffers from other diseases, there are many who will trace the origin of such diseases to abject poverty in the families where the child or any member suffers from such diseases. However, no such reasons can be assigned to CP. The ratio of children affected by CP is just the same in poverty stricken underdeveloped countries and highly developed economically affluent countries. The reason is therefore elsewhere and one of the conditions that may cause development of CP is some birth injury sustained by the child.
It cannot be ignored however those certain events that occur during the birthing time might result in organic deficiency in the child and that could later develop into CP. One reason that could be termed as one of the primary causes of Cerebral Palsy is low Apgar scores at less than 3 at 20 minutes. This type of Apgar score suggests that the infant suffered from severe asphyxia at the time of birth. Most of the times when treating physicians diagnose CP in child hood; they find that the affected child has suffered from severe asphyxia during infancy.
Birth injury is often considered to be results of medical malpractice or negligence. Therefore a number of cases come up before the law courts seeking compensation on such grounds where a child is affected with Cerebral Palsy. However, latest research has proved the truth to be otherwise. It has now realized that CP is more a result of abnormality present in the baby before its birth rather than injuries sustained during the birth.