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[Severely handicapped children and its relationship with perinatal medical care]
Insights
This study investigated the causes of severe handicaps in young children in Himeji city. Perinatal factors were the most common cause, with many children requiring neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) follow-up.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Neurology
- Public Health
Context:
- Study population: 68 severely handicapped children aged 3-6 years from Himeji city.
- Local birth rate: Approximately 9,900 live births per year.
- Prevalence of severe handicaps: Estimated at 1.7 per 1,000 live births.
Purpose:
- To determine the etiological factors contributing to severe handicaps in young children.
- To analyze the origins of handicaps, categorizing them into congenital, perinatal, neonatal, and unknown onset.
Summary:
- Congenital factors accounted for 25% of handicaps.
- Perinatal factors were the leading cause at 40%.
- Neonatal period factors contributed 21%, with 15% having unknown origins.
Impact:
- High admission rate (67%) to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) for affected children.
- Strong correlation between NICU admission and subsequent need for neurological follow-up.
- Suggests a potential link between a cooperative healthcare network and increased identification of handicapped children post-NICU discharge.
Abstract:
We studied the etiology for sixty-eight severely handicapped children aged between 3 and 6 years, who were born in the Himeji city and the environs (9,900 live births/year). The prevalence was around 1.7/1,000 live births. The factors of their handicaps were as follows: congenital 25%; perinatal 40%; neonatal period 21%; and unknown onset 15%. Thirty-six patients out of 54 (67%) were admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and visited the Center for neurological follow up immediately after their discharge. The high frequency of patients from NICU, compared with previous reports, might be due to a cooperative network between NICUs and the Center with medical support for handicapped children in this area.