Premature births cause lasting harm, disabilities, study finds
March 27th, 2008From the Los Angeles Times:
Premature births are on the rise in the U.S., amounting to more than half a million babies annually or more than one in eight American infants. Researchers are finding that the consequences of these early births can be devastating, leading to learning disabilities, neurological problems, lung diseases and cerebral palsy.
Infants born prematurely are also much more likely to die during childhood, or to remain childless when they reach adulthood, according to a study by Duke University researchers.
The study suggests that the number of disabled infants and adults will rise as advances in neonatology make it possible to save babies earlier. Contributing to the rising prematurity rate, researchers say, may be the growing use of assisted reproduction.
Also on the rise are deliberately induced premature deliveries and cesarean sections — many because of distress to the mother or infant, but some for the convenience of the doctor or mother.
“Are we improving their survival at the expense of significant problems down the road?” asked the lead author, Dr. Geeta Swamy.
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on Thursday, March 27th, 2008 at 10:15 am and is filed under NOT2BEMISSED, cerebral palsy, disabilities, learning disabilities.
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