Clinical findings and white matter abnormalities seen on diffusion tensor imaging in adolescents with very low birth weight.

Very low birth weight (VLBW) children are at high risk of perinatal white matter injury, which, when subtle, may not be seen using conventional magnetic resonance imaging. The relationship between clinical findings and fractional anisotropy (FA) measurements in white matter of adolescents born prematurely with VLBW was studied in 34 subjects (age = 15 years, birth weight

Psychiatric symptoms and disorders in adolescents with low birth weight.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms and disorders associated with low birth weight.Design/study groups: A population based follow up study of 56 very low birthweight (VLBW: birth weight < or = 1500 g), 60 term small for gestational age (SGA: birth weight < 10th centile), and 83 term control (birth weight > or = 10th centile) children at 14 years of age. OUTCOME MEASURES: Schedule for affective disorders and schizophrenia for school aged children, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rating scale IV, autism spectrum screening questionnaire, and children's global assessment scale. RESULTS: VLBW adolescents had a higher prevalence of psychiatric symptoms (46%) than controls (13%) (odds ratio (OR) 5.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5 to 13.0) and more psychiatric disorders (25%) than controls (7%) (OR 4.3, 95%CI 1.5 to 12.0), especially anxiety disorders. Although 25% of the VLBW adolescents had attention problems, ADHD was diagnosed in only 7%. Four VLBW adolescents had symptoms of Asperger's disorder, and the VLBW group had a higher sum score than controls on the autism spectrum screening questionnaire. Although more SGA adolescents had psychiatric symptoms than controls (23% v 13%), the difference was not statistically significant. Results remained essentially the same when adolescents with low estimated intelligence quotient were excluded, and persisted after possible psychosocial confounders had been controlled for. CONCLUSION: VLBW, but not SGA adolescents, have a high risk of developing psychiatric symptoms and disorders by the age of 14, especially attention deficit, anxiety symptoms, and relational problems.

Motor skills in adolescents with low birth weight.

BACKGROUND: Minor motor problems have been reported in low birthweight children, but few studies have assessed motor skills in adolescents. OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence of motor problems in adolescents with low birth weight. METHOD: Fifty four very low birthweight (VLBW: birth weight < or = 1500 g), 59 term small for gestational age (SGA: birth weight < 10th centile), and 83 control (birth weight > or = 10th centile at term) children were assessed with the Movement assessment battery for children (Movement ABC) at the age of 14 in a population based study. RESULTS: One in four VLBW children (odds ratio (OR) 9.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.5 to 34.5) and one in six SGA children (OR 4.7, 95%CI 1.2 to 18.4) had motor problems compared with controls (3.7%). There were no sex differences in motor problems in the VLBW group, and the increased risk was consistent across the continuum of the Movement ABC. For SGA children, the increased risk of motor problems was particularly in manual dexterity in boys. CONCLUSION: VLBW and SGA adolescents have increased risk of motor problems compared with control children.

[Assistance work in Romania. A multidisciplinary study of institutionalized children]. / Hjelpearbeid i Romania. En tverrfaglig undersøkelse av institusjonsbarn.

In October/November 1990 a health team worked in an institution for mentally retarded children in Rumania. The team diagnosed 154 children and encountered children with undernourishment, retarded growth, skin infections, injuries and untreated physical deformities. 11 children were in need of acute medical attention. Cerebral palsy and motoric, auditive and visual handicaps were not attended to. The children showed signs of deprivation, anxiety and behavioural maladjustment. They were mentally retarded, but receptive to stimulation. To conclude, the children suffered from physical, psychological, pedagogic and social neglect. The article provides information on the needs for further assistance to children in institutions in Rumania.