Question
A friend had a baby today, but the child wasn’t doing well after birth. It might be due to a long labor. The doctor said it’s because of neonatal hypoxia. What consequences could be severe, and what kind of help can be expected? What are the symptoms of neonatal hypoxia?
Answer
(1) The mild symptoms of neonatal hypoxia are most apparent within the first 24 hours after birth. They typically include alternating periods of inactivity and restlessness, or overexcitement, spontaneous or stimulus-induced muscle fasciculations, normal cranial nerve examination, normal or increased muscle tone, increased Moro reflex, normal other reflexes, dilated pupils, rapid increase in heart rate, no seizures, and normal EEG. Symptoms usually resolve or disappear 3-5 days later, and neurological sequelae are rarely left behind. (2) Moderate symptoms of neonatal hypoxia are most apparent between 24 to 72 hours after birth. Symptoms include confusion, drowsiness, seizures, muscle fasciculations, jaw tremors, decreased tone, miosis, periodic breathing with bradycardia, low-voltage EEG, and seizure activity. These symptoms usually gradually recover within 1-2 weeks.