The newborn diseases of the infants can be present at the birth of the infant (congenital) or develop within the first month of their life. There are several types of diseases that can affect the newborns. This includes benign neonatal epilepsy, congenital hyperinsulinism, ichthyosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, congenital hypothyroidism, newborn jaundice, neonatal sepsis and congenital toxoplasmosis.
Ichthyosis
This is a genetic skin condition that presents dry, large plate-like scaling that is usually evident at the birth of the infant and continues throughout their life. There are various types of Ichythyosis such as localized Ichthyosis, lamellar Ichthyosis, Ichthyosis vulgaris and congenital Ichthyosiform erythroderma. These affected individuals also have additional problems such as dehydration, infections, chronic blistering and overheating. There is no cure for this condition and the treatment is focused on the management of symptoms that include moisturizers to relieve the dryness of the skin.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
This is a chronic lung disease that mostly affects the premature infants. The premature infants are born with the tiny air sacs that are not mature enough to function normally and hence they require the respiratory support for breathing. This condition develops as the result of damage to the lungs caused by the mechanical ventilation and with the long-term use of oxygen. Some of the common symptoms include wheezing, poor growth, discoloration of the skin, rapid breathing and recurrent lung infections. The treatment consists of medications that reduce the fluid around the alveoli, to relax the muscles around the air passages and to prevent inflammation within the lungs. Although most of the infants tend to recover, they may have a long-term problem with breathing.
Newborn Jaundice
This develops in the infants as the result of excess bilirubin in the blood that is normally produced by the red blood cells which are broken down and passed out of the body. Jaundice is a common problem affecting the newborn infants who have an increased level of red blood cells. Jaundice also develops as the result of other problems such as under active thyroid gland and the blockage of the gallbladder. The affected infants don’t necessarily require treatments as the condition gets better within a couple of weeks. In the case the condition doesn’t improve, they may require treatment with phototherapy or an exchange transfusion.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
This is a group of inherited conditions that develops from the disorders of the adrenal gland which is important for the production of essential hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone. Because the affected individuals produce more than the normal androgen, the male sex hormone, they may have early onset of male characteristics. The symptoms include abnormal genitals of the females at the birth, poor feeding, abnormal heart rhythm, failure to menstruate with the girls and enlarged penis of the boys. The treatment consists of hormone therapy with the form of cortisol.
References
http://www.firstskinfoundation.org/what-is-ichthyosis
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health_info/Ichthyosis/#5
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Jaundice-newborn/Pages/Treatment.aspx
