An infant born before the 37 weeks from the initial day of the last menstruation period are considered to be premature infants. The premature infants are susceptible to a number of problems such as hypothermia, hypoglycemia, the risk of a respiratory problem, neonatal jaundice, various infections and serious long-term complications. Some of the diseases of the premature infants include bronchopulmonary dysplasia, infant respiratory distress syndrome, retinopathy of prematurity, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis and patent ductus arteriosus.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
This is a chronic lung disease that mostly affects the premature infants who are born with few tiny alveoli that are not mature enough to function. Hence they require the respiratory support. This condition develops as the result of the lung damage that is caused by the mechanical ventilation. Some of the symptoms of this condition include rapid breathing, wheezing, discoloration of the skin, recurrent lung infections and poor growth. The treatment consists of medications that reduce the amount of fluid in the alveoli, relaxing the muscles around the air passages and preventing the inflammation within the lungs.
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
This is the condition that is characterized by the unclosed hole in the aorta. The ductus arteriosus is a hole that ensures the blood does not reach the lungs for circulation before the infant is born. However, when the infant is born, this hole becomes closed and the blood receives the oxygen from the lungs. This condition causes the abnormal blood flow between the two major blood vessels that transport blood from the heart to the lungs. Some of the symptoms include fast breathing, fatigue, shortness of breath, rapid pulse, a problem with feeding and poor growth. The treatment includes medication or surgery to close the PDA.
Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
This is the condition that presents breathing difficulty often evident among the premature infants as the result of their lungs that are not completely developed. This occurs with the deficiency of the substance in the lungs known as surfactant which is essential for the lungs to fill with air. This condition can also occur as the result of a diabetic mother, a problem during labor that reduces the blood flow to the baby and induction of the labor before the full-term. Some of the symptoms of RDS include shallow breathing, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, brief periods of not breathing (apnea), bluish color of the skin and decreased urine output. The treatment usually includes administration of moist oxygen, giving extra surfactant and assisted ventilation.
Necrotizing enterocolitis
This is the death of the intestinal tissue and mostly develops among the premature and the sick infants. Some of the causes can include the problem with the blood flow to the bowel that can damage the tissue, presence of bacteria in the intestine and the imbalance in the immune regulation. The symptoms may include diarrhea, feeding problems, blood in the stool, abdominal bloating, vomiting, unstable body temperature, unusual breathing and fatigue. The treatment includes administering IV fluids and nutrition, IV antibiotics or the surgery to remove the dead bowel tissue.
References
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001560.htm
