Abstract
The aim of this study is to analyze causes of severe brain damages of postnatal origin in children and to search for strategies to prevent them. The patients group consists of forty-five children with severe motor and intellectual disabilities sampled at several hospitals and special schools in a part of Tokyo. Twenty-four out of 45 cases (53%) were due to infectious diseases of the central nervous system (meningitis, encephalitis, and acute encephalopathy including Reye syndrome). Nine cases (20%) were due to brain damage related to medical services (complications of heart surgery, hypoglycemic encephalopathy, and so on). Accident- related brain damages accounted for 8 cases (18%) and 4 out of 8 were anoxic encephalopathy due to asphyxia (hanging and near drowning in two cases each).
We conclude that intensive prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and accidents in children can reduce large part of the incidence of postnatally acquired severe brain damages in children.
