Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

E verywhere in the world, out of every 1000 live births, between two and three babies will suffer from cerebral palsy. Such babies used to be known as "spastics". Cerebral palsy is a complex motor disorder at the level of the central nervous system. It is caused by irreversible brain lesions occurring before, during or shortly after birth. This condition is therefore clearly influenced by the quality of perinatal care. After a period when there appeared to be a significant reduction in this disorder, the incidence now seems to be on the increase in both developing and industrialized countries a trend that may be related to World Health • 48th Year, No. 5, SeptemberOctober 1995