Question
My friend just had a baby, and I visited the baby today. My friend said the baby has brain oxygen deficiency. Now my friend is very worried and scared. I want to know what are the symptoms of newborn brain oxygen deficiency and how should it be treated?
Answer
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) in newborns refers to brain damage caused by oxygen deficiency and ischemia due to perinatal asphyxia. The disease mainly presents with symptoms such as consciousness impairment, irritability, low responsiveness, drowsiness, coma, bulging fontanelles, separation of sutures, increased head circumference, and seizures. We should immediately begin mild hypothermia therapy to protect brain cells, improve the metabolic function of damaged neurons, and maintain a stable internal environment. At the same time, symptomatic supportive treatment should be provided to control seizures, reduce brain edema, and improve cerebral blood flow and brain cell metabolism. Neural nutrition therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and functional training can improve the prognosis.