title: Cerebral palsy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: I. Aetiological factors.
abstract: Aetiological factors predisposing to cerebral palsy were investigated in 190 children with this condition seen in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia since January 1980. Ninety-four (49.5%) of the cases were natal in origin, 63 (33.1%) prenatal and 33 (17.4%) postnatal. Anoxia was the most common aetiological factor, accounting for 38 cases (20%), followed by prematurity in 18 (9.5%). These two factors combined accounted for 29.5% of all cases and 59.5% of those in the natal group. Idiopathic cases, the third largest group, accounted for 9.0%. Certain factors were shown to predispose to specific neurological deficits, the majority of the 190 patients being spastic diplegic (31%) or quadriplegic (26.3%). Saudi Arabia is going through a process of massive economic, social and medical progress. In view of improvements in all these areas and of other factors, a change in the pattern of incidence of cerebral palsy in Saudi Arabia is expected in the future.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000002:abnormalities; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012737:Sex Factors