An epidemiological study of cerebral palsy in Western Australia, 1956-1975. III: Postnatal aetiology.

Cases of cerebral palsy which apparently were due to some postnatal event were studied in the Western Australian Cerebral Palsy Register. 11 per cent (89) of all cases were thought to be so acquired, a rate of 2.4 per 10,000 neonatal survivors. Males, particularly under 12 months of age, were especially vulnerable. Infections such as meningitis and encephalitis, particularly among aboriginal children, were responsible for over half the cases and accidents were responsible for one-quarter. Other causes included epileptic fits and cerebrovascular accidents. There was a positive association with parity and neonatal problems and a negative one with birthweight, suggesting that children 'at risk' neonatally are more susceptible to a postnatal brain-damaging event. Preventive programmes should include improvement in aboriginal living conditions; legislation for car restraints for infants; and health education for parents on the vulnerability of infants, the importance of immunisation, and how to recognize early the signs of potentially serious infections.