Neonatal Diseases

Overview

The neonatal period is only the first 28 days of life, but it accounts for 40% of all deaths in children under the age of five. Even within the neonatal period, mortality rates vary greatly, with 75 percent of all neonatal deaths occurring in the first week of life including 25 to 45 % in the first 24 hours after birth.

Neonatal diseases are defined as disruptions in a newborn's normal bodily condition, organs, and improper function. Obstetricians play a critical role in reducing the frequency of newborn illnesses. 

Some frequent neonatal illnesses include prematurity, respiratory dysfunction, birth trauma, congenital abnormalities, neonatal infection, and hemolytic disorders of the baby. The most essential factor in minimizing these illnesses is preventive obstetrics.