Brain Damage in the Preterm Infants

Premature birth or preterm birth refers to the birth of a baby before completing 37 weeks of gestation, as opposed to full term delivery of approximately 40 weeks. Preterm birth may lead to various problems such as increased threat of morbidity and mortality, brain damage, and cerebral palsy. There are various factors that lead to the development of brain injury in preterm infants. Factors such as perinatal asphyxia, infection/inflammation, chronic hypoxia, and exposure to treatments such as mechanical ventilation, and corticosteroids causes severe damage to parts of the brain. One of the conditions which are caused due to brain damage in preterm infants is cerebral palsy. Children suffering from cerebral palsy (CP) face problem with hearing, speaking, sensation and vision. A child with cerebral palsy has impaired muscle tone, reflexes, motor development, and coordination. Brain damage can be prevented partly through maternal immunization and minimization of head traumas in children. This book aims to shed light on some of the unexplored aspects of preterm birth and related brain damage, and the recent researches related to it. Researchers and students engaged in this area of study will be greatly assisted by it.