Follow-Up Of H？gh-Risk Infants

Abstract The follow-up of high risk infants discharged from the Neonatal intensive care unitsis a highly important health issue in order to early recognition and treatment of morbidities. The families should be informed about the medical problems and possible complications of the babay and a check-list may be prepared for the families. Corrected age should be used for the early evaluation of Preterm infants. Postnatal growth retardation is common especially in infants < 1500 grams. Feeding the infants with a high-calorie, low protein formula may result in adequate weight gain but calculation of lean body mass is a bet-ter measure for the evaluation of these infants. Breast milk is not sufficient frequently toprovide the needs of the infants, and it should be fortified. Iron should be started after 1month at a dose of 2-3 mg/kg per day until 12 months. ESPHGAN does not recommend to start on solid foods before a chronological age of 17 weeks (4 months). In infants withchronic or recurrent diseases, vitamins may be used for prolonged periods. Feedings problems are common in infants with permanent neurological deficits or transient neurological immaturity. Infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia should be prevented from environmental irritants and contagious diseases as much as possible and intermittant illnesses should be treated immediately. These infants should be left to sleep on their backs, in fear of SIDS. It is the duty of the pediatrician to refer them to the ophthalmologist at the appropriate age for ROP screening. In infants with ROP, eye examinations should be repeated at 6 months, 2-3 years and preschool age for amblyopia and refraction errors. All infants < 1500grams should have a hearing screening before 3 months ofage. Infants with intraventricular hemorrhages, hydrocephalus, periventricular leukomalacia and seizures should haveclose follow-up. Even if they have normal IQs, learning disorders are common at school and they may need special education. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism specturm disorders are also common in these infants