Living with Neonatal asphyxia
A rare brain condition in newborns, starting in the first hours of life, with changes in alertness, muscle tone, feeding, and breathing.
Understanding Neonatal asphyxia
Babies can have changes in alertness, from irritability and being less responsive to coma. They can also have abnormal reflexes, low muscle tone, seizures, and trouble with feeding and breathing. Long-term effects can include behavior problems, delays in development, learning disabilities, seizures, vision and hearing problems, and cerebral palsy.
Signs & symptoms
GARD doesn't list a symptom list, but the summary describes these features:
- Irritability or low responsiveness
- Low muscle tone (hypotonia)
- Seizures
- Feeding difficulties
- Breathing difficulties
- Abnormal newborn reflexes
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include brain and nervous system specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists)
- Expert care
- Ask about multidisciplinary care centers for rare conditions
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Hope for HIE
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD doesn't describe a cause for this condition yet.
Also known as: asphyxia - birth; asphyxia in liveborn infant; asphyxia neonatorum; asphyxia, in liveborn infant; birth asphyxia; birth depression
Patient organizations
- Hope for HIENeonatal asphyxia · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Neonatal asphyxia.
Explore research for Neonatal asphyxia
Explore actively recruiting Neonatal asphyxia studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Neonatal asphyxia with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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