Perinatal encephalopathy

The literal translation of the term "perinatal encephalopathy" is a serious pathology of the brain that originated in the perinatal period, that is, starting from 28 weeks. Pregnancy and on the eighth day of a newborn's life. This concept combines a vast group of states, syndromes and brain dysfunctions that do not lend themselves to a more specific definition.

According to some experts, the diagnosis of "perinatal encephalopathy" is valid during the first thirty days of a baby's life, others are firmly convinced that within twelve months. Until the baby reaches the age of one month, it is extremely difficult to determine which pathology of the brain is available, which is why all cases of impaired functioning or structure of the brain tissue are called perinatal encephalopathy.

There are several classifications of the main risk factors, the number of which varies from 40 to 100. Extragenital diseases, socio-biological factors, obstetric-gynecological factors, complications of pregnancy and childbirth have the greatest impact. Quite often, there are combinations of several factors at once, which significantly increases the likelihood of perinatal pathology, and also worsens the predictions of the condition of the fetus and the newborn.

The socio-biological factors that may cause perinatal encephalopathy include: the age of the mother (less than 18 and more than 30 years at the time of the birth of the first child), the harmful work associated with chemistry, radiation and vibration, as well as the harmful habits of the father and mother (Smoking, alcoholism, drug addiction), hereditary diseases.

The group of extragenital diseases includes both acquired and congenital heart diseases, endocrine diseases, anemia, hypertension, surgical operations, chronic renal failure and other pathologies that disrupt the normal development of the fetus.

Obstetric-gynecological factors include long-term infertility, frequent medical abortions and repeated miscarriages. The risk factors associated with complications of pregnancy include the threat of termination of pregnancy and severe toxicosis, incompatibility of blood of the mother and child, multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios, multiple pregnancy, various variants of pathological presentation of the placenta or fetus, rapid delivery, etc. Among the risk factors, Pregnancy drug therapy and infectious diseases of the mother (syphilis, rubella, toxoplasmosis, cytomegalia).

Perinatal encephalopathy: a clinical picture. This pathology proceeds as an acute condition, characterized by the presence of symptoms of CNS depression, respiratory and circulatory disorders, convulsions and other neurological manifestations. There are three main clinical forms of the acute period of the course of the disease and the severity of neurological disorders: mild, moderate and severe. Among the violations are most of the: acute asphyxia and intracranial birth injuries. There are also cerebral hemorrhages, secondary purulent meningitis and brain abscesses.

Perinatal encephalopathy: treatment. With the timely comprehensive treatment of this disease in most children there is a significant, and even an absolute restoration of impaired functions by the second year of life. Occasionally, minimal symptoms of cerebral dysfunction, microcephaly, hydrocephalus, focal lesions of the central nervous system, convulsive syndrome, cerebral palsy, etc. remain.

Perinatal encephalopathy: consequences.

The most severe consequences of encephalopathy include extensive brain and CNS dysfunction, which due to the rapid development of innovative medical technologies in the near future can be completely curable.