The magic baby: an extremely preterm baby case from Syria

Abstract

Globally, around 5-18% of all births, or an estimated 15 million births per year, are estimated to be born preterm (before 37 weeks of gestation),1 81.1% of them are in Asian and sub-Saharan African countries, 10.6% are in North America, and 6.2% are in Europe.2 Prematurity causes more than a million newborn deaths annually.3 Preterm neonates who survive are more susceptible to develop shortterm and long-term complications. Common complications of preterm birth are respiratory distress syndrome(RDS), bronchopulmonary dysplasia, necrotis ingenterocolitis(NEC), sepsis, periventricular leucomalacia, seizures, intraventricular hemorrhage(IVH), cerebral palsy, infections, feeding difficulties, hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, and visual and hearing problems.4