A study done several years ago by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke in Bethesda, Maryland, showed that infection may be a leading cause of cerebral palsy in newborns. It was found during the study that children who were diagnosed with cerebral palsy had a higher level of cytokines, proteins that are present during infection.
Maternal Illnesses

Viruses which cross the placenta and affect the fetus, such as Herpes B, are thought to affect the brain and result in the kind of damage that causes cerebral palsy. Other maternal illnesses that have been linked to cerebral palsy include:

• Rubella. Also called “German measles,” this infection can be prevented with a vaccine.

• Varicella. More commonly known as “chicken pox,” this can also be prevented with a vaccine.

• Cytomegalovirus. About 80 percent of the population gets this common virus, which causes flu-like symptoms, at some point in their lives. However, if a pregnant woman experiences this virus for the first time, it can cause cerebral palsy.

• Toxoplasmosis. This is technically a parasite that can be found in the feces of cats. Pregnant women with cats should be warned by their doctors not to handle the litter box.

• Syphilis. This is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause the kind of brain damage in the fetus that results in cerebral palsy.

Most maternal infections can be treated during pregnancy. With the proper medical care, the risk of cerebral palsy can be minimized.
Infant Infections

Infant illnesses that affect the brain can cause cerebral palsy.

• Meningitis. The bacterial form of meningitis is the most dangerous, and causes inflammation in the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. The disease can result in permanent damage to the brain, resulting in cerebral palsy.

• Viral encephalitis. This virus causes the brain to become inflamed. This illness can also result in permanent damage to the brain, resulting in cerebral palsy.