Intraventricular hemorrhage
Intraventricular Hemorrhage (IVH) is a type of bleeding that occurs in the ventricles, or fluid-filled areas, of the brain. This condition is most common in premature infants, especially those with a low birth weight.
Causes[edit | edit source]
The blood vessels in a premature infant's brain are very fragile and can burst easily. This can lead to IVH. The risk of IVH increases with the degree of prematurity; the more premature the baby, the higher the risk. Other factors that can increase the risk of IVH include a difficult delivery, infection, and a lack of oxygen or blood flow to the brain.
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
Symptoms of IVH can vary depending on the severity of the bleeding. They can include changes in breathing or heart rate, decreased muscle tone, seizures, and a swollen or tense fontanelle (the soft spot on the top of a baby's head).
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
IVH is usually diagnosed with an ultrasound of the head. This test uses sound waves to create images of the brain and can detect any areas of bleeding.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for IVH focuses on managing the symptoms and preventing further bleeding. This can include medications to control seizures and procedures to drain excess fluid from the brain.
Prognosis[edit | edit source]
The prognosis for IVH depends on the severity of the bleeding and the presence of other health problems. Some babies with IVH may have long-term neurological problems, such as cerebral palsy or developmental delay.
Prevention[edit | edit source]
While it's not always possible to prevent IVH, steps can be taken to reduce the risk. This includes providing high-quality prenatal care, preventing premature birth whenever possible, and managing the health of the baby immediately after birth.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Intraventricular hemorrhage Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD, Dr.T