Continuing morbidity in extremely low birthweight infants.

The pattern of lesser but continuing morbidity in the first 2 years was reported in 36 survivors who weighed 500-799 g at birth and in 83 survivors who weighed 800-999 g at birth. Over this period, there was one post-discharge death. Sixty-one percent of children were rehospitalized, most commonly for respiratory tract disorders and surgical procedures such as aural ventilation tube insertion and inguinal herniorrhaphy. Their three most common medical disorders were otitis media (55%), wheezing episode (48%) and lower respiratory tract infection (29%). At 2 years of age, 44% remained below the tenth percentile for weight, 45% for height and 12% for head circumference. Other lesser morbidity included iatrogenic scarring, abnormal head shape and behavioural problems. Except for otitis media, survivors of 500-799 g birthweight did not have a significantly higher rate of neurodevelopmental impairment, health problems, rehospitalization, suboptimal growth or behavioural disorders, compared to those of 800-999 g birthweight. This study confirms the need for providing extremely low birthweight children and their families with a continuity of comprehensive medical care and social support after hospital discharge.