Infections after birth dire for tiny babies Friday, November 19, 2004 Lindsey Tanner Associated Press

Premature Babies Chicago - Infections shortly after birth are a surprisingly significant cause of cerebral palsy and other brain development disorders in the tiniest premature babies, a study found. It is well known that babies born extremely prematurely run a higher risk of developmental problems, with the chief causes thought to include infections contracted in the womb and bleeding in the brain. The new research shows the strong degree to which infections contracted after birth - including infections not directly involving the brain - are linked to neurological problems later, said Dr. Barbara Stoll of Emory University, the lead author.

The Study The study, published in today's Journal of the American Medical Association, involved 6,093 babies born weighing less than 2.2 pounds. 65% of them had at least one infection while hospitalized, and 41% had at least one mental or physical impairment at follow-up visits between the ages of 1 and 2. The study also found –A 40% higher risk of cerebral palsy in children who had had sepsis, or infection in the bloodstream. –A 2.4% higher risk of motor impairments, including delayed walking, in those who had had sepsis plus an intestinal infection called necrotizing enterocolitis. –A 2.2% higher risk of vision impairment in those who had had meningitis, or inflammation of the brain.

Costs of Premature Births Recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), shows the percentage of babies born prematurely has risen to nearly 12%, the highest level in two decades and a 27% increase since In 2001, more than 476,000 babies were born prematurely in the U.S. Babies born prematurely have less developed organs than full-term babies, and are more likely to face serious multiple health problems following delivery. Premature babies often require care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which has specialized medical staff and equipment. In 2001, hospital charges for 26,000 infant stays with a principal diagnosis of prematurity/low birthweight totaled $1.9 billion; the average hospital charge was $75,000 per stay, compared to $1,300 for an uncomplicated newborn stay.

CDC Notes Infants born too small use more resources than normal weight infants. They often need time in neonatal intensive care unit at a cost ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 per day. The lifetime costs for one premature baby are conservatively estimated at $500,000. Low birth weight accounts for 10% of all health care costs for children.

Causes While the underlying cause(s) of preterm birth are not well known, the 3 known risk factors for preterm labor most consistently identified by experts are: –Multifetal pregnancy (e.g., twins, triplets); –A woman's past history of preterm delivery; –Some uterine and/or cervical abnormalities. Other possible risk factors may include: –High blood pressure, diabetes, clotting disorders, obesity, or other chronic health problems in the mother; –Certain infections during pregnancy; –Cigarette smoking, alcohol use, or illicit drug use during pregnancy.