Neonatal intensive care unitA neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), also known as an intensive care nursery (ICN), is an intensive care unit (ICU) specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants. The NICU is divided into several areas, including a critical care area for babies who require close monitoring and intervention, an intermediate care area for infants who are stable but still require specialized care, and a step down unit where babies who are ready to leave the hospital can receive additional care before being discharged.
Vertically transmitted infectionA vertically transmitted infection is an infection caused by pathogenic bacteria or viruses that use mother-to-child transmission, that is, transmission directly from the mother to an embryo, fetus, or baby during pregnancy or childbirth. It can occur when the mother has a pre-existing disease or becomes infected during pregnancy. Nutritional deficiencies may exacerbate the risks of perinatal infections. Vertical transmission is important for the mathematical modelling of infectious diseases, especially for diseases of animals with large litter sizes, as it causes a wave of new infectious individuals.
Maladie des membranes hyalinesLa maladie des membranes hyalines (MMH) est une des causes principales de détresse respiratoire du nouveau-né. Elle est liée à une immaturité pulmonaire avec défaut en surfactant pulmonaire et affecte préférentiellement le nouveau-né prématuré. Elle est responsable d'un tableau de détresse respiratoire nécessitant une oxygénothérapie et le plus souvent des mesures d'assistance respiratoire. Son apparition peut être prévenue (ou son évolution écourtée) par l'administration de corticostéroïdes qui aident à la maturation pulmonaire.
