title: Epidemiology of cerebral palsy.
abstract: The term cerebral palsy refers to a range of clinical symptoms, with related service requirements, resulting from lesions or abnormalities in the brain arising early in life. It is not a diagnosis; aetiology and pathology are variable. This article discusses the definition and differential classification of cerebral palsy, describes trends in its frequency over time stratified by associated variables, and briefly reviews the most recent findings concerning its aetiology.
authors.affiliation: Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, P.O. Box 855, West Perth, WA 6872, Australia. eve@ichr.uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D016857:Hypocapnia / Q000150:complications; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate