Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of many infectious agents that can contribute to causing cerebral palsy, though mental retardation is more often the result.  A herpes virus, cytomegalovirus, though its effect on the mother may be mild, can lead to brain damage and cerebral palsy in the child.  The mild parasitic infection toxoplasmosis may go unnoticed by the pregnant mother, yet it may manifest itself in trauma to the fetal brain that will not show up until months after birth.  It has even been noted that mothers who eat cheese containing listeria (a group of bacteria) have given birth to infants who later are found to have cerebral palsy.

Though premature infants are inevitably at greater risk than a full-term baby, a number of factors involving infection can increase the chance of a full-term infant contracting cerebral palsy by nine times.  These variables include infections of the amniotic sac, amniotic fluid, placenta, urinary tract, and the membrane surrounding the fetus.  If the mother exhibits a fever of over 100.4 F (38 C), then other risk factors need to be taken into consideration.

Once it has been concluded that the pregnant mother is exhibiting risk factors associated with cerebral palsy, such as potential inflammation in the amniotic fluid, intervention is an option.  The invasive testing of all natal environments for infection and for the potential complications of infection is undertaken with caution.  If the tests prove positive for infection, the physician searches for the source of the infection.  Once located, an immediate intervention can diminish the chance that the infection will result in cerebral palsy.

Even common placental bacteria have recently been associated with cerebral palsy.  It may be that this one variable by itself has little negative effect upon the fetus, but in combination with other factors, it may increase the risk of trauma.

Certain agents frequently associated with the factors leading to cerebral palsy have been referred to as the TORCH group (toxoplasmosis, other infections, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex).  They have the greatest negative effect upon the fetus during the first six months.  During this stage, the fetal nervous system is still in development and the ability of the infant to defend itself is still under construction.

Immunization for rubella is a powerful, controllable variable that prevents cerebral palsy in scores of individuals.  Though successfully addressed in the developed world, there are still places where immunization alone can greatly reduce the occurrence of cerebral palsy.

Bachrach, Steven J., and Miller, Freeman.  Cerebral Palsy: A Complete Guide for Caregiving.  Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1995.

Hart, Hilary M., ed.  Clinics in Developmental Medicine.  London:  Mac Keith Press.   Alberman, Eva; Blair, Eve; and Stanley, Fiona.  Cerebral Palsies: Epidemiology and Causal Pathways.  London:  Cambridge University Press, 2000.  (The book is part of a series of hardcover monographs published by Mac Keith Press.  Four new ones are published each year.  The distributor is Cambridge University Press.)

Stanton, Marion.  The Cerebral Palsy Handbook:  A Practical Guide for Parents and Carers.  London:  Vermillion, 2002.