Risk factors for cerebral palsy

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a major cause of crippling in children. This study was done to assess some of the identifiable risk factors for CP. Two hundred and eighty five children suffering from CP attending the outpatient department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Dhaka, Bangladesh over one year two months time period was studied retrospectively. Male to female ratio was 1.8:1.Most common type of CP was found to be spastic (80%). Birth asphyxia was found in 46.7% of all the cases making it the single most common risk factor. Other important factors were low birth weight (20.3%) and preterm birth (17.2%). Neonatal convulsion and neonatal jaundice were found in 22% and 16.5% of cases respectively. Among prenatal factors toxaemia (6.3%) and other maternal illnesses (7%) were found. An integrated approach to management throughout the antenatal, natal and postnatal periods is required to reduce the incidence of CP.