Cerebral Palsy Associated with Global Developmental Delay Following Significant Perinatal Risk Factors: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive neurodevelopmental disorder caused by injury to the developing fetal or infant brain and is commonly associated with motor impairment and developmental delay. Antenatal, perinatal and neonatal complications are recognised risk factors that contribute to its development. Early identification of affected children is important for timely intervention and long-term management. Case Presentation: A two-year-old male child presented with recurrent jerky movements, fever and vomiting. He had significant antenatal, perinatal and neonatal risk factors, including low birth weight, absent end-diastolic flow in the umbilical artery, fetal distress, prolonged neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission requiring continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) support, and a history of neonatal seizure. Developmental assessment revealed delays across multiple domains, and neurological examination demonstrated hyperreflexia with impaired motor function. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis, fundoscopic examination and electroencephalography were unremarkable. Based on the clinical findings and associated risk factors, a clinical diagnosis of cerebral palsy associated with global developmental delay was made. Symptomatic improvement was observed following treatment, and the child was referred for further paediatric neurological evaluation. Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of careful developmental surveillance in children with significant antenatal, perinatal and neonatal risk factors. Early recognition of developmental delays and neurological abnormalities can facilitate timely diagnosis and appropriate management. The absence of neuroimaging and standardised developmental assessment represents a limitation of this report.