Apnea of Prematurity

Apnea of prematurity is a respiratory disorder, found in babies born before completing 35 weeks of gestation period. It can also occurs in a normal baby, but is most commonly seen in premature babies. Babies with apnea of prematurity are not able to breath properly, i.e. take in oxygen as normal babies do. They stop breathing for 15-20 seconds because the part of the central nervous system, i.e. the brain and the spinal cord, that controls breathing in human beings, is not fully developed. Apnea usually decreases as the child grows, and is fully cured by the time the baby attains 2-3 months of age. Besides this, it is unlikely that they may ever again contract this disorder.

The major cause of apnea is premature birth, which causes incomplete development of the central nervous system. However, there are other causes that can lead to apnea. These include damage of tissues in the brain, anemia, infectious diseases, problems in the heart or blood vessels, intake of some kind of drugs during pregnancy, seizures, etc.

Symptoms
Apnea is found in babies within 2-3 days after they are born. It is important to distinguish apnea from other breathing patterns in infants like periodic breathing. Children who have periodic breathing stop breathing for a short while and then suddenly start taking deep breaths. This is quite normal in new born babies, however apnea is a more serious condition. More care has to be taken if it is developed due to a problem in some part of the body.

A baby who has apnea may stop breathing for few seconds, however, in severe conditions, breathing will not be present for longer period of time. Children having apnea may have abnormal (slow) heart beat, which is called bradycardia. This may make the baby look pale or bluish in color.

Diagnosis
As premature babies are always at a risk of contracting apnea, they are monitored from the time they are born. If the baby is not breathing properly as the normal one's, physicians may do a thorough physical examination to understand the cause of it. If it is diagnosed that the baby has apnea, it will be further checked if the cause of it is premature birth or something more serious. Other tests like X-Ray, blood tests, etc. are also administered to detect whether the baby has apnea.

Treatment
Babies who have a mild apnea are kept in the neonatal intensive care unit and their breathing is monitored constantly, through a cardiorespiratory monitor. If a baby stops breathing, rubbing the hands, back or legs can make him start breathing normally.

Treatment of apnea is where the baby is helped to breathe through various mechanical devices. Usually premature babies are kept in ventilators where a tube is attached to their wind pipe and breaths of air are passed to their lungs. Another way of treatment is the 'Continuous Positive Airway Pressure' (CPAP), where oxygenated air is supplied to the lungs and air passages of the baby. This air is passed through a tube that is connected through the nose, to enable him or her to breathe normally. Sometimes caffeine is given to the baby which helps to arouse the central nervous system. Doctors may also prescribe certain medications to cure the baby from apnea. However, when apnea occurs due to some serious causes, doctors will have to administer some other treatment.

Parents of babies, with apnea of prematurity, may have a tough time, as watching the baby stop breathing can scare them. They should realize that taking care of the baby, according to the instructions given by the doctor, will surely lead to fast recovery of the baby from apnea of prematurity.