| Common Ailments in the NICU
Babies who are admitted to the NICU often have some of the following medical
conditions or symptoms. The NICU staff will explain the plan of care that we are following for your baby and
encourage you to ask questions.
- Apnea - pauses in breathing that last more than 20 seconds or pauses that are associated with cyanosis
(turning blue) and/or bradycardia (a heart rate below normal).
- Asphyxia - lack of oxygen to the brain and the body that results in an accumulation of carbon dioxide and
acid in the blood.
- Atelectasis - the collapse of air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs that interferes with the ability of the lungs
to sufficiently deliver oxygen to the blood.
- Atrial septal defect - a hole in the septum of the heart. The septum separates the two upper chambers of the
heart (the atria).
- Bradycardia - a significant decrease in the heart rate below the normal minimum for
newborns of 100 beats per minute.
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia - scarring of the lung tissue that is usually a consequence of prolonged use of
a mechanical ventilator.
- Cerebral palsy - a condition in which movement and posture are abnormal due to brain damage that occurred
before, during or after birth. Although the cause is unknown, cerebral palsy is often associated with oxygen
deprivation.
- Cleft palate - a birth defect that results in an opening in the roof of the mouth, connecting the oral and
nasal cavities.
- Coarctation of the aorta - a heart defect in which the aorta (main artery from the heart to
the body) is narrow.
- Cyanosis - a characteristic blue color of the skin usually around the lips and/or nailbeds of a baby. It is
caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood, usually caused by lung problems or poor circulation.
- Cytomegalovirus - a common virus that can attack babies with a poor or underdeveloped immune system.
- Desaturation (“desats”) - a medical term for too little oxygen in the blood; treatment includes delivering a
higher percentage of oxygen to the baby through nasal cannula, oxygen hood, CPAP, or a ventilator.
- Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21) - a birth defect caused by an extra 21st chromosome; associated with impaired
development with variation in physical symptoms.
- Edema - a build-up of fluid in the body that results in swelling; it is usually a symptom
of another ailment.
- Gastroenteritis - inflammation of the bowel, usually due to infection.
- Intraventricular hemorrhage - bleeding in the ventricles (small, central openings) of the brain due to the
rupture of small, fragile vessels in the brain. “Bleeds” are associated with prematurity and are measured in
Grades I through IV with IV being the most severe: Grade I: bleeding into a small area just below the
ventricles; Grade II: bleeding into the ventricles; Grade III: enlargement of the ventricles due to excess
blood, fluid, and pressure; Grade IV: bleeding into the brain outside of the ventricles
- Jaundice - the accumulation of broken-down red blood cells (bilirubin), causing a yellowish skin color;
treated by using bright lights, called bili lights (phototherapy).
- Meconium aspiration - the process by which a fetus passes meconium (dark, sticky fecal matter) into the
amniotic fluid and inhales or aspirates it into the lungs; however, the obstetrician and/or neonatologist will
suction the baby to prevent the meconium from entering the lungs.
- Necrotizing entercolitis - a severe inflammation of the bowels that can cause many complications; usually
treated with IV feedings and medication, although surgery may be required in severe cases.
- Patent ductus arteriosus - the process by which the ductus arteriosus (a blood vessel that carries blood
from the heart during fetal life, bypassing the lungs) does not close off shortly after birth. As the baby
breathes and the lungs begin to work, the PDA fills the blood vessels in the lungs with too much blood,
resulting in respiratory problems and other ailments.
- Periventricular leukomalacia - the formation of cysts and calcifications in the brain, usually due to
intraventricular hemorrhage.
- Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn - a serious condition in the lungs in which high blood
pressure in the arteries supplying blood to the lungs decreases the amount of oxygen to the rest of the body.
- Reflux - the backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus.
- Respiratory distress syndrome - decreased lung function in newborns, especially preemies, that may be due to
insufficient surfactant in the lungs.
- Retinopathy of prematurity - a condition in the eye that affects the retinas of premature babies, resulting
in irregular blood vessel growth and scarring that can lead to severe vision impairment or blindness.
- Sepsis - a general infection
- Small for gestational age - a term for a newborn who falls below the 10th percentile for the baby’s
particular gestational age; this term can be applied to preemies or full-term babies.
- Tachycardia - a heart rate that is faster than normal.
- Tachypnea - a breathing rate that is faster than normal.
- Thrombocytopenia - a condition in which there are too few platelets (clotting agents) in
the blood.
Information
For more information about Maternal/Child Services at Shands AGH,
please call 352.733.0165.
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