[Cerebral palsy in children and its relationship with perinatal medical care].

We studied the etiology of 76 children with cerebral palsy (CP) aged 3 to 6 years, who visited the Himeji City Center for the Handicapped for neurological follow up. The patients for this study composed of 30 cases with severe handicap. 8 cases of CP with mental retardation and 10 cases of CP without mental retardation. Nine cases of CP had congenital anomalies of central nervous system, of which 8 cases showed severe handicap. Main perinatal factors were asphyxia, dyspneic condition needed for mechanical ventilation, prolonged apneic spells, and hyperbilirubinemia. All full-term birth children were accompanied with asphyxia, in which 43% had intracranial hemorrhage. A cooperative network between neonatal intensive care unit and an institute for the handicapped is essential for the care of infants with cerebral palsy.