Risk factors of global developmental delay in infants and children with cerebral palsy in Mid-Delta Region, lower Egypt

Background Cerebral palsy (CP) is a physical disability that affects movement and posture; it is a term that refers to a group of disorders affecting a person’s ability to move, due to damage to the developing brain either during pregnancy or shortly after birth. CP can affect body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture, and balance. Aim The aim of the study was to identify the most important risk factors that are implicated in the etiology of global developmental delay in children with CP. Patients and methods This cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 patients with the diagnosis of CP aged less than 17 years who were attending the Pediatric Neurology Outpatient Clinic of Tanta University Hospital during the period from August 2019 to June 2020. Results The most common risk factors associated with severe mental retardation were low socioeconomic level, epilepsy, especially if uncontrolled, antiepileptic drugs, especially Na valproate alone or in combination with levetiracetam or topiramate, perinatal hypoxia, postencephalitic etiology, congenital brain anomalies, spastic quadriplegia, and mixed type. The most common risk factors associated with severe developmental delay were perinatal hypoxia, congenital infection, and congenital brain anomalies. Conclusion The most common risk factors of CP in this study were perinatal hypoxia, prematurity, and prenatal hypoxia.