Hemorrhage in the brain of a newborn: causes and consequences

Hemorrhage in the brain in a newborn, also known as intracranial hemorrhage, is due to the rupture of blood vessels inside the skull. This can be the result of lack of oxygen or deformation of bones during childbirth. Hemorrhage in the brain is more common among preterm infants when there is ischemia - insufficient blood flow to the brain, and hypoxia - a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Most infants with intracranial hemorrhage do not feel any symptoms. But this condition can lead to sluggishness, apathy and problems with feeding. Depending on where the cerebral hemorrhage occurred in the newborn, it is classified into several species.

• Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs in the space between the arachnoid and soft membranes covering the brain. It is the most common form of intracranial hemorrhage and, as a rule, occurs in full-term children. With subarachnoid hemorrhage the child in the first days of life can have seizures from time to time. Then the state is normalized.
• Subdural hemorrhage occurs between the outer and inner membranes of the brain as a result of a head injury. Currently, it is rare because of improved methods of delivery. If there is a subdural bleeding in the brain in newborns, the consequences can be severe. Bleeding can lead to a heavy load on the surface of the brain, which can lead to a high level of bilirubin in the blood or cause the development of neurological disorders.
• Intraventricular hemorrhage in the brain of a newborn occurs in cerebral cavities filled with cerebrospinal fluid (ventricles). Most often it occurs in severely premature children due to brain underdevelopment. An increased risk of developing such bleeding is infants born before the 32nd week of pregnancy. Since the still developing brain of premature newborns has greater endurance, hemorrhage usually occurs in the first three days of life and does not cause subsequent problems. More serious bleeding leading to complete filling of the ventricles with blood can lead to damage to the "gray matter", which is associated with complications such as cerebral palsy and behavioral problems.

Hemorrhage in the brain in a newborn is diagnosed by ultrasound. All infants with intracranial bleeding should receive enhanced care, as well as treatment, consisting of intravenous infusions and other procedures to maintain the body's functions until it recovers. With subdural hemorrhages, the therapy should be performed by the surgeon. With proper care and treatment, intracranial bleeding does not cause long-term problems. Although the result depends on many factors, including the degree of the disease, the degree of brain damage, other diseases and infections the child has. To a newborn who has a cerebral hemorrhage, in the future could develop to its maximum potential, parents should provide him with a stimulating environment in the first years of life.