Premature infant

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Preterm infant; Preemie

A premature infant has organs that are not fully grown. The infant needs special care in a nursery until the organ systems have developed enough to sustain life without medical support. This may take weeks to months.

A premature infant will have a low birth weight - less than 5.5 pounds (2500 grams). Common symptoms in a premature infant include:

• Respiratory problems such as hyaline membrane disease (also known as respiratory distress syndrome or RDS)
• Episodes of absent breathing (apnea)
• Poor feeding
• Thin, smooth, shiny, almost translucent skin
• Transparent skin (can see veins under skin)
• Wrinkled features
• Soft, flexible ear cartilage
• Body hair
• Weak cry
• Usually inactive -- however, may be unusually active immediately after birth
• Enlarged clitoris (female infant)
• Small scrotum, smooth without ridges (male infant)

This list may not be all inclusive.

The infant may have a low body temperature and show signs of breathing problems.

Common tests performed on a premature infant include:

• Chest x-ray
• Blood gas analysis
• Blood tests to check glucose, calcium, and bilirubin levels

Review Date: 12/27/2006
Reviewed By: Ian Marshall, MD, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.