Abstract

VELAZQUEZ QUINTANA, Nora Inés; MASUD YUNES ZARRAGA, José Luis  and  AVILA REYES, Ricardo. Recién nacidos con bajo peso; causas, problemas y perspectivas a futuro. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2004, vol.61, n.1, pp.73-86. ISSN 1665-1146.

Low birth weight (LBW) is a worldwide health problem that affects the newborn morbidity and mortality. Among the multiple issues mentioned associated with LBW are: anthropological, nutritional, sociocultural and demographic status of the mother; obstetrical data and pathology that influences the function and sufficiency of the placenta in addition to fetal abnormalities. Repercussions seen in LBW are not confined to the immediate neonatal period, since the delay in development and growth can persist up to adulthood and can be manifested into their offspring. Besides prematurity LBW is the strongest predictive factor associated with mortality. Newborns with LBW are an heterogeneous group that comprises neonates at term with low weight for gestational age, those with intrauterine growth retardation, prematures and those born from multiple pregnancies. Each 1 with a different etiology, medical attention received before, during and after birth and finally different possibility to receive rehabilitation, often related to socioeconomic issues outside from the medical realm.

Keywords : Intrauterine growth retardation; malnourishment; intrauterine; low birth weight.