PHYSIOLOGIC HANDICAPS OF THE PREMATURE INFANT

Abstract

The newly born infant must make a number of physiologic adjustments in transit from a parasitic intrauterine to an independent extrauterine existence. The infant who is born at term is usually able to make these adjustments successfully, and in consequence his chances of survival are good. On the other hand, the physiologic immaturity of the prematurely born infant renders his organism less well equipped to cope with the external hazards encountered at birth, with the result that his capacity for satisfactory adaptation is low and his neonatal mortality correspondingly high. It is estimated that of the 2,000,000 full term babies born each year in the United States 95 or 96 of every 100 reach their first birthday, whereas not more than 65 or 70 of every 100 of the 100,000 premature babies born annually survive their first year. The importance of prematurity as a cause of death in the newborn