Can maternal fever cause cerebral palsy? Yes, maternal fever during pregnancy or in newborns can contribute to brain damage that leads to cerebral palsy, mainly through infections that cause inflammation and reduced oxygen to the baby’s brain.[1]
Cerebral palsy happens when the brain gets injured before, during, or right after birth. This injury affects movement and muscle control. One key cause is infections in the mother that lead to fever. These infections can pass to the baby in the womb. For example, conditions like chorioamnionitis, meningitis, encephalitis, and cytomegalovirus raise the risk. Even some sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes simplex virus or HIV, can do this.[1]
When the infection reaches the baby, it causes swelling and inflammation in the developing brain. This cuts off oxygen and harms brain cells. In severe cases, it leads to a widespread body infection called neonatal sepsis. Untreated infections can also cause jaundice, where bilirubin builds up in the blood and turns the skin yellow. Both sepsis and jaundice boost the chance of brain damage.[1]
Fever itself plays a big role. Any infection causing high fever in a newborn or infant can lead to lasting brain harm. Even something common like the flu might trigger movement problems that show up as cerebral palsy symptoms later.[1]
Premature babies face even higher risks. Studies show over half of kids with cerebral palsy were born early. Those born before 28 weeks have the biggest chance. Infections and fever make this worse, which is why special care like brain cooling helps prevent it.[1]
Other pregnancy issues, like prolonged rupture of membranes, can spark inflammation without a clear infection. This raises markers like C-reactive protein in the baby and links to cerebral palsy later.[2]
Maternal infections are just one piece. Things like lack of oxygen during birth or bleeding in the brain also cause cerebral palsy. But fever from infections stands out as a preventable risk if caught early.[1][3]
Doctors stress good prenatal care to spot and treat fevers fast. This includes antibiotics for infections and monitoring for preterm labor.
Sources
https://www.nationalbirthinjurylaw.com/what-causes-cerebral-palsy
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12735826/
https://www.bila.ca/does-aspirin-use-during-pregnancy-increase-the-risk-of-cerebral-palsy/
https://www.droracle.ai/articles/597766/how-can-a-pregnant-individual-with-cerebral-palsy-cp
