One important cause is an insufficient amount of oxygen reaching the fetal or newborn brain. Oxygen supply can be interrupted by premature separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus, awkward birth position of the baby, labor that is too long or too abrupt, or interference with circulation in the umbilical cord. Premature birth, low birth weight, blood type incompatibility between mother and infant, infection of the mother with German measles or other virus diseases in early pregnancy, and microorganisms that attack the infant s central nervous system also are risk factors for cerebral palsy. It is estimated that 500,000 children and adults in the United States have cerebral palsy. Approximately 35,000 people in Michigan have cerebral palsy.
Management is a better word than treatment.
Management consists of helping the child achieve maximum potential in growth and development. This should be started as early as possible. A management program can include attention to the child s movement, learning, speech, hearing, and social and emotional development. In these programs, physicians, therapists, educators, nurses, and social workers assist the family and the child. Certain medications, surgery, and braces may be used to improve nerve and muscle coordination.