What Can Cause Neonatal Encephalopathy?

A phenomenon called neonatal encephalopathy (NE) can affect newborn infants and cause abnormal neurological function. Lack of oxygen to the foetus at any stage during pregnancy or birth is the most common cause of NE.

The disorder may be referred to as hypoxia ischemic encephalopathy when oxygen deprivation results in NE (HIE). The brain suffers damage from oxygen deprivation, but other internal organs may also be impacted. Low oxygen levels can have negative effects on the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, and gastrointestinal tract. Those infants who survive NE are at a significant risk of developing cerebral palsy or a lasting brain impairment, but prompt treatment can help.

In some instances, other elements, such as:

• An infection in the mother’s uterus (womb) before birth
• An intraventricular hemorrhage (a type of bleeding in the brain that can be associated with prematurity)
• A congenital brain malformation
• A genetic or metabolic disorder

Diagnosis of Infant Encephalopathy:

Your newborn will undergo a physical examination from the physician very away after birth. Your child will be moved to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for specialized care if they exhibit NE symptoms. If your baby is born at a facility without a NICU, Riley at IU Health's mobile NeuroNICU transport service can be called upon to transport your child to our NeuroNICU, where they will receive the best care possible while receiving therapeutic treatments while in transit.