When it comes to cerebral palsy infants are the most commonly affected individuals. The condition is caused by damage to the brain. This damage may come prior to birth, during birth or right after birth, in most cases. Prior to and during birth, complications that can lead to the development of cerebral palsy include infections such as bacterial meningitis, herpes simplex virus or others. It can also be caused by both avoidable and unavoidable events that occur during the birthing process, such as a lack of oxygen to the baby or other signs of distress that are not dealt with properly or can be dealt with properly. The development of the condition is often not noted until the child begins to show developmental problems as the infant ages.