Posted By Mictre (Sydney, NSW, Australia) on 06/12/2013

Because of your convictions on CP being caused by virus and/or Bacteria I am going to give you a summary of her first month. Hopefully you can interpret her challenges and recommend treatment.

Born at 24 weeks gestation at weight 675gms. This was an IVF twin pregnancy complicated by preterm labour; Respiratory distress syndrome after delivery and received surfactant replacement therapy and was ventilated for one month and continued CPAP till day 50. Her Respiratory disease was complicated by pneumothorax and pulmonary interstitial emphysema. Ultimately had chronic neonatal lung disease.

Other neonatal problems included anaemia of prematurity treated with multiple blood transfusions, apnoea and bradycardia treated with CPAP and cafeine citrate, and transient hypothyroidism of prematurity, treated with thyroxine.

Ivy had multiple episodes of infection. Infection in the blood with coagulase negative S. At two weeeks of age, and infection in the endotracheal aspirate with Klebsiella at the same time. At 2 months she had infection in the blood with Enterococcus.

She developed Intraventrivular haemorrage and bilateral ventriculomegaly during the neonatal period. Compicated by possible seizures at 3 weeks of age. Hydrocephalus ensued with concurrent meningitis (Klebsiella cultured from the cerebrospinal fluid).

Ultimately, obstructions and dilation of the ventricles resulted in the placement of two Vp shunts.

My daugter is now 7 yrs of age and has Cerebral Palsy with predominantly left hemiplegia, severe gastro oesophageal reflux and tactile sensitivities and some oral aversions. Feeding and weight gain have been until recently a major issue. She now weighs 18.4 kgs, which is a releif!

She is mildly intellectually impaired, has a sunny disposition, walks with ankle orthosis but is still not independentally dressing, eating. Her atttention/focus is limited and thus has learning difficulties

We are now ready to tackle the cause of her Cerebral Palsy but are concerned that we might inadvertantly cause any bacteria that may be compartmentalised in her brain to be re-introduced.

It is my guess that we might need to treat for viral and Bacterial infection.

How would you proceed?

Warm regards.

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