Exposure to viral infections at birth linked to cerebral palsy


Reuters


Friday, January 06, 2006


Exposure to certain viral infections around the time of birth is linked to
cerebral palsy, Australian scientists say. Findings by researchers at the
University of Adelaide suggest that neurotropic infections, which include the
herpes viruses, mumps and measles, could trigger brain damage and cerebral
palsy, a group of disorders that impairs the control of movement. "The risk of
cerebral palsy is nearly doubled with exposure to the herpes B viruses,"
Catherine Gibson, a research fellow at the university, said in a report in The
British Medical Journal. But she added other factors such as a susceptibility to
infection or prematurity may be needed for the disorder to develop. Ms. Gibson
and her team analyzed blood samples taken within a few days of birth from 443
children with cerebral palsy and 883 other babies. They found that herpes B
viruses were found more frequently in children later diagnosed with cerebral
palsy. Neurotropic viruses can cross the placenta and infect the baby shortly
before or after birth. The researchers said the likelihood of the mother's
infection crossing into the fetus depends on the virus, whether the infection is
recurrent and the age of the fetus at the time of the infection.

C National Post 2006








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