Cerebral ischemia (aka hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy) is a complication of the pathology of pregnancy and childbirth, which is caused in newborns by oxygen starvation of the brain. This disease is often found, but often at birth the child can not differ in any way from healthy children. And after a short period of time, the disease begins to manifest itself.
Factors that can trigger cerebral ischemia in newborns
- the age of the woman in childbirth is over 35;
- premoving or premature placental abruption;
- premature or, conversely, late delivery;
- preeclampsia;
- violation of the fetal cardiovascular system;
- turbidity of amniotic fluid;
- multiple fertility;
- chronic or acute illness of the mother during pregnancy.
Symptoms and signs of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in newborns
- a syndrome of increased excitability - the child has a restless and shallow sleep, he often cries for no reason, flinches and is constantly in an excited state;
- hydrocephalic syndrome - the baby noticeable increase in the size of the head and a large fontanel;
- convulsive syndrome - a manifestation of convulsive seizures;
- a syndrome of oppression - the swallowing and sucking reflexes decrease, the weakening of muscle tone, the appearance of strabismus and asymmetry of the face are possible. The baby becomes sluggish and inactive;
- comatose syndrome is a serious condition of the child, in which there are no reflexes of sucking and swallowing, and there is also no reaction to external pain stimuli. In this case, the baby has lowered blood pressure, as well as breathing and pulse.
Cerebral ischemia in newborns - treatment
Depending on the symptoms and results of the examination, three degrees of severity of cerebral ischemia of the brain in newborns are distinguished.
- Easy degree - treatment is carried out in the maternity hospital, and after discharge is necessary to observe the neurologist. In this case, the child is marked by excessive excitement or, conversely, oppression during the first week of life.
- The average degree - not discharging from the maternity ward, the treatment of the baby is carried out in the hospital. This degree of severity is characterized by a longer dysfunction of the central nervous system of the child, which is accompanied by a periodic manifestation of seizures.
- Severe degree - immediately after birth the child is placed in the intensive care unit. The condition of the baby is characterized by depression, turning into excitement, convulsions and coma.
As a treatment at the first stage of the disease, several massage courses will be sufficient, without the use of any medications. Treatment of a more severe degree of cerebral ischemia in newborns is possible only on the strict recommendations of a doctor. Most often these are injections, candles,
Cerebral ischemia in newborns - consequences
Modern medicine allows you to avoid complications of this disease. But since the consequences of cerebral ischemia in newborns can be very severe, the disease should be diagnosed and cured as soon as possible. The main part of children who have suffered cerebral ischemia, there are slight signs - fast fatigue, poor memory, febrile convulsions, hyperactive syndrome. The most dangerous outcome of this disease in infants is cerebral palsy (cerebral palsy) and epilepsy. The prognosis for cerebral ischemia in newborns is determined by the degree of severity of the disease and the effectiveness of rehabilitation measures that were prescribed by a child neurologist.