Guide To The Causes And Risk Factors Linked To Cerebral Palsy

Bacterial Meningitis

Newborns who contract bacterial meningitis have an increased risk of cerebral palsy. Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord. The most common causes of bacterial meningitis in newborns include Group B streptococcus and listeria. This form of meningitis occurs more often in male newborns than in female newborns. In neonates who have a low birth weight, the condition develops in two out of every one thousand babies. Approximately fifteen percent of newborns with sepsis will develop bacterial meningitis. Additional signs in newborns include seizures, irritability, vomiting, and lethargy. Newborns with bacterial meningitis may also have a bulging fontanelle, and nuchal rigidity and cranial nerve abnormalities could occur. To diagnose this bacterial infection, physicians perform a lumbar puncture (spinal tap). Antibiotics are the primary treatment method. If treatment is successful, a baby may still have lasting effects such as hearing loss and learning difficulties.