Cerebral palsy of post-neonatal origin: characteristics and risk factors

Christine Cans, Vicki McManus, Michael Crowley, Pascale Guillem, Mary Jane Platt, Ann Johnson, Catherine Arnaud, Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe Collaborative Group

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Abstract

We aimed to study the rates and trends over time of children with cerebral palsy (CP) of post-neonatal origin (arising more than 28 days after birth, and before the age of 25 months), to examine their aetiology and associated significant risk factors, and to compare them with other CP cases. Children with post-neonatal CP born 1976-90 were identified from a European database and seven registers were included (Surveillance of Cerebral Palsy in Europe collaboration). Using a previously published classification it was possible to allocate an aetiology to 99% of cases. The prevalence rate of post-neonatal CP was 1.26 per 10 000 live births and a significant decrease was observed over the period 1976-90 (P = 0.011). Infection accounted for 50%, vascular episodes for 20% and head injury for 18% of the cases. Although there has been little change in the profile of underlying causes in this period, within the infection group, a significant downward trend was observed for Reye's syndrome (P
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)214-220
Number of pages7
JournalPaediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology
Volume18
Issue number3
Early online date5 May 2004
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2004

Keywords

  • Age of Onset
  • Birth Weight
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Child, Preschool
  • Communicable Diseases
  • Craniocerebral Trauma
  • Europe
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Population Surveillance
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Distribution
  • Vascular Diseases

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