Premature infants and neurodevelopmental morbidity

Abstract

Brain injury in some surviving premature infants increases the risk of neurodevelopmental disability, including major cognitive and motor deficits Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), is the main type of brain injury. The cerebral white matter, thalamus, basal ganglia, cerebral cortex, brain stem and cerebellum may be affected. Infants with low birth weight are also in high risk. It is difficult to shout a clear, clinicopathologic correlations in premature infants has been difficult. The neurosensory impairments are complex and often subtle. At school age, children born preterm tend to have soue difficulties in learning, attentional problems and hyperactivity. Early intervention programs have positive influence on cognitive and motor outcomes. (Turk Arch Ped 2010; 45: 80(th) Year: 20-2)