What is the neonatal intensive care unit?

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What is the neonatal intensive care unit?

• What Types of Treatment Do Pediatric
  Pulmonologists Provide?

2

• Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is an
  intensive care unit that specializes in the care
  of ill and premature newborn infants. The term
  neonatal comes from the word neo - meaning "new,"
  and natal - "pertaining to birth." It is also
  known as the intensive care nursery (ICN).
  Sometimes newborn babies need intensive medical
  attention and are often admitted into this
  special unit to address their medical needs.

3
How did NICU originate -

• The very first Neonatal intensive care unit was
  opened in the year 1960 at Yale - New Haven
  Hospital in the city of New Haven, Connecticut.
  It was designed by American neonatologist Louis
  Gluck ( 1924 - 1997 ) , who made several
  important contributions in the field of care for
  newborns and is considered as "the father of
  neonatology."
• He developed protocols that helped to reduce the
  spread of serious bacterial infections in
  newborns.
• He also developed a laboratory test called the
  L/S ratio that could predict the chance of a
  newborn developing an infant respiratory distress
  syndrome, a disease caused by structural
  immaturity in the lungs.

4
Who looks after the babies in the NICU

• The NICU combines the service of trained health
  care professionals along with advanced
  technology. It is directed by one or more
  neonatologists who are assisted by nurses, nurse
  practitioners, pharmacists, resident physicians,
  respiratory therapists and dietitians
• The members of the NICU team coordinate with the
  parents to develop a plan that takes care of the
  high - risk newborns. There are NICU parent
  support groups in some hospitals which encourage
  parental involvement in taking care of the
  newborns

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Which kind of babies need to be admitted into a
NICU

• Most babies that are admitted into the NICU are
  premature, those that have been born before the
  37 weeks of gestational period.
• The premature babies are also known as preemies.
  Some babies that are admitted have a birth weight
  less of than 5.5 pounds or have a medical
  condition that requires special care. Twins,
  triplets and other multiples are often admitted
  to NICU.
• The premature babies are also known as preemies.
  Some babies that are admitted have a birth weight
  less of than 5.5 pounds or have a medical
  condition that requires special care. Twins,
  triplets and other multiples are often admitted
  to NICU.

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Levels of of NICU

• The American Academy of Pediatrics has laid down
  guidelines in accordance with which there are
  four levels of NICU care that have been
  prescribed
• Well newborn nurseries that provide care to
  babies that are born at 35 to 37 weeks of
  gestation period.
• cial care nursery that provide care to babies
  born of more than 32 week gestation period and
  weighing more than 1500 g.
• Provide sustained life support to neonates that
  weigh less than 1500 g and have a gestation
  period of less than 32 weeks.
• Regional NICU is the highest level of NICU that
  have pediatric surgical sub specialists in
  addition to care providers necessary in the above
  three levels.

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What Types of Treatment Do Pediatric
Pulmonologists Provide?

• Children with breathing problems or any lung
  related problems are treated by a pediatric
  pulmonologist.
• A pediatric pulmonologist has the necessary
  experience and qualifications to treat the
  breathing or respiratory problems that develop in
  children

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speciality of pediatric.

• A pediatric pulmonologist offers treatment to the
  following conditions in the children -
• A cough that lasts for more than four weeks is
  defined as chronic cough. It can be annoying for
  the children and also put a strain on their body.
  Constant coughing can lead to interrupted sleep,
  headache, dizziness and in some cases vomiting
  and rib fractures.
• Pneumonia is the lung infections caused by the
  inflammation of air sacs. Repeated incidence of
  pneumonia in children is known as recurring
  pneumonia. It generally starts after the child
  has caught cough, flu or an upper respiratory
  infection. Usually the pneumonia clears up in 2
  or 3 weeks but in certain severe cases the child
  may even require hospitalisation. The main causes
  of pneumonia are to bacteria, virus or fungi
  related infections.

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Cystic fibrosis

• It is a genetic disease which leads to the mucus
  in the body becoming thick and sticky. The glue
  like mucus builds up and cause problems in the
  lungs.
• Children those who have cystic fibrosis can have
  serious breathing problems and lung diseases.
• In some cases they may even develop digestion,
  nutrition and growth related problems.

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Apnea

• Apnea is a disease that results in prolonged
  pause between breaths. Brief pauses during sleep
  is normal but if the breathing stops for a longer
  period during sleep it is known as sleep apnea.
• It is generally caused by something obstructing
  or blocking the upper airway. It is a serious
  condition which may lead to the child missing out
  on a healthy sleep.
• Sleep apnea can also lead to heart problems,
  learning, behaviour or growth related problems.

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Asthma

• It is one of the most common respiratory problems
  among the children and even in adults. Every 5 in
  100 children suffer from this disease.
• It is caused by the chronic inflammation of the
  airways.
• Symptoms of asthma include frequent coughing
  spells and attacks of breathlessness, tight chest
  and wheezing.