Question
Premature babies often have difficulty sleeping at night, feeling weak, restless, and experiencing hand and foot spasms or seizures. They cry constantly and cannot be calmed down. When brought to the hospital for a check-up, the diagnosis is neonatal hypocalcemia. What factors lead to neonatal hypocalcemia?
Answer
Neonatal hypocalcemia may be caused by insufficient calcium storage during fetal development or excessive phosphorus intake after birth. This condition usually occurs within the first two days after birth, primarily due to temporary hypoparathyroidism. Premature babies, those who have experienced asphyxia, or those with respiratory distress syndrome have a poorer parathyroid function compared to full-term normal newborns, resulting in less calcium storage and an increased risk of hypocalcemia. It is recommended to seek examination and treatment at a more professional hospital as soon as possible.