title: Cerebral palsy: classification and epidemiology.
abstract: This article reviews the historical background, classification, and etiology of cerebral palsy (CP), the most common motor disability of childhood. The various methods employed to measure the prevalence of CP in the population are examined. Causes of CP are numerous, and the etiology multi-factorial. Risk factors are categorized by the timing of their proposed occurrence: prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal. The leading prenatal and perinatal risk factors for CP are birth weight and gestational age. Other risk factors include neonatal encephalopathy, multiple pregnancy, infection and inflammation, and a variety of genetic factors.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, The Marcus Autism Center, Emory University, 1920 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
authors: Amy Thornhill
authors: AT
authors: Pakula
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Van Naarden Braun
authors: Marshalyn
authors: M
authors: Yeargin-Allsopp
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000145:classification* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology