Health Law

Newborns With Smaller Heads at Risk for Cerebral Palsy

According to recent reports, more than 25,000 children are born each year in the United States with microcephaly. Microcephaly is a condition in which the circumference of the head at birth is smaller than that of 97 percent of children when just born. Microcephaly is not just something that can affect newborns, but also something that can become a health issue later in life, until about the age of two.

Researchers are now finding that while this condition poses a problem in itself, more and more children with microcephaly are developing other long-term disabilities and illnesses. Among some of the most common conditions linked to microcephaly are cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and cognitive delays. In light of this new information, researchers are urging parents and doctors to be even more aware of the development of the fetus and even screen for microcephaly once the child is born to avoid cerebral palsy and other disabilities from affecting their future.

Smaller Head Accounts for Development of Cerebral Palsy

Statistics show that of the children born with microcephaly, 20 percent also develop cerebral palsy whether immediately or slowly as they begin to grow. However, researchers are worried that not enough doctors are on the lookout for this rare disorder. Though they find it necessary if medical groups want to avoid one of these life-altering conditions from affecting children under their care, and the potential of cerebral palsy lawsuits in the future.

Special treatments and screenings have been proven to be helpful in determining whether a child born with a smaller than normal head will develop disabilities like cerebral palsy. Among the screenings that are helpful are brain scans such as an MRI or CT scan. Genetic testing can also help doctors see the causes of microcephaly in newborns.

Full post as published by Cerebral Palsy Law Blog on September 23, 2009 (boomark / email).