Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Cerebral palsy primary prevention
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Effective measures for the primary prevention of cerebral palsy include avoiding preterm birth, avoiding complicated delivery and avoiding head trauma in the neonate.
Primary Prevention
Primary Prevention
During pregnancy
- Avoiding preterm birth is the main preventive measure against cerebral palsy.[1]
- Vaccination against common infection that might lead to premature birth such as German measles.
- Avoiding cigarette smoking, alcohol, and drugs during pregnancy.
- Magnesium sulfate is proven to decrease the risk of cerebral palsy in the women predisposed to preterm delivery.
During delivery
- Proper monitoring of fetal and mother vitals during delivery.[2]
- Early detection of the factors that might contribute complicated delivery such as narrow pelvis.
- Delayed separation of the umbilical cord especially after complicated deliveries.
After delivery
- Ensuring proper ventilation and brain perfusion.
- Treatment of the underlying cause if possible.
- Avoiding head trauma.
References
References
- ↑ Bunchuk NV, Rytikova MI (1988). “[Horton’s disease]”. Revmatologiia (Mosk) (in Russian) (2): 56–63. PMID 3051278.
- ↑ O’Shea TM (2008). “Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cerebral palsy”. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 51 (4): 816–28. doi:10.1097/GRF.0b013e3181870ba7. PMC 3051278. PMID 18981805.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Younes M.B.B.CH [2]