All issues > Volume 10(9); 1967

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1967;10(9):467-474. Published online September 30, 1967.

Statistical Observation on the Causes of Birth and Death in the Premature Infants

Jin Won Kim¹, Keun Soo Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, National Medical Center Seoul, Korea

Abstract

A clinical statistical study was made on 516 cases of premature infants, delivered at the National Medical Center, during January 1, 1959 to July 31, 1964. The birth rate of premature infants was 10.2 % and the contributory factors of premature delivery were 34.2 % of normal or unknown, 26.2 % of toxemia and 13.8 % of twin. Maternal diseases and its complications during pregnancy effected, upon mortality of premature in-fants, particulary among women with abnormality of fetal position, hydramnion, pyelonephritis and cardiac disease. The causes of death in the premature infants at autopsy were 30.6 % of pulmonary atelectasis, 19.4% of hyaline membrane disease, 14.5% of pneumonia, 12.9% of congenital malformation and 9.7% of intracranial hemorrhage. The most common clinical symptoms of premature infants prior to death were cyanosis, respiratory distress, weak crying and poor sucking.

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