Date:
Jul 01, 1997

Low birth weight (under 5.5 lbs) is considered an important risk factor for the occurrence of cerebral palsy. However, 95% of live births are of normal birth weight, and account for more than half the cases of cerebral palsy.

Why do newborn infants of normal birth weight develop cerebral palsy? There are several reasons. A recent research article documents one of the major causes: maternal infection.1 The medical records were examined of a population of normal birth weight singletons, alive at age 3 or older who were born in the mid-1980s. The factors associated with the occurrence of cerebral palsy were identified. A major factor associated with cerebral palsy was maternal infection.

Maternal fever during labor was present nearly 10 times more often when infants were born with cerebral palsy than in mothers of infants without developmental brain damage. There was a nine times increase in evidence of placental infection. The occurrence of other neo-natal complications (e.g.: seizures; poor oxygenation) was also more common in infants of mothers showing signs of infection.

Comment: Maternal infection continues to be identified as an important reason for the developmental brain damage of the fetus and newborn infant. The maternal infection may be “silent” (no symptoms) and so neither the mother nor physician are aware of it. Or the infection can be evident with fever and signs of poor health, often including kidney or bladder infection. In either case, the placenta, the placental membranes and/or the umbilical cord may show signs of infection.

The mother and physician being alert to minor signs of maternal infection and the initiation of prompt treatment are essential to help prevent developmental brain damage of the newborn. This is true for both premature and full term infants; for both low birth weight and for full birth weight infants. The fetal and newborn brain are very susceptible to the “toxins” produced by infectious agents and to the dysfunction of an infected placenta and umbilical cord. A previous Research Fact Sheet (October, 1996) discussed the danger of Streptococcus B Infection of the mother and the need for prompt treatment.

1 Grether, J.K.; Nelson, K.B. Maternal Infection and Cerebral Palsy in Infants of Normal Birth Weight. JAMA, July 16, 1997; 278:3

© UCP Research & Educational Foundation, July 1997