Which of the following is NOT among the major risk factors for cerebral palsy?

• A. Prematurity
• B. Perinatal hypoxic-ischemic injury
• C. Intraventricular hemorrhage
• D. Neonatal jaundice

Answer: (D)

The main idea is that cerebral palsy is most often linked to injuries to the developing brain around birth. Premature birth leaves the brain particularly vulnerable to injury from disrupted blood flow or oxygen, so prematurity is a well-known major risk factor. Perinatal hypoxic-ischemic injury directly deprives brain tissue of oxygen during birth, which can cause lasting motor dysfunction characteristic of cerebral palsy. Intraventricular hemorrhage, especially in very preterm infants, can damage the periventricular white matter and contribute to the development of CP.

Neonatal jaundice by itself is extremely common and typically harmless. It becomes a concern for cerebral palsy only if bilirubin levels are extremely high and lead to kernicterus, where bilirubin deposits in brain regions and can cause movement disorders. With modern management, kernicterus is now rare. So neonatal jaundice is not considered a major risk factor for cerebral palsy.