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Some children are born with different ailment or the other, sometimes this sickness are caused by the mother, either by carelessness or the things not done when they are pregnant.

In other hand, some diseases manifest on its own without actually being causes by the mother.

Well, today I will be discussing on a particular medical condition that have drawn a lot of concern among health practitioners as regards the causes in children and why it is always so.


###### Birth asphyxia
 >Birth asphyxia is the medical condition resulting from deprivation of oxygen to a newborn infant that lasts long enough during the birth process to cause physical harm, usually to the brain. It is also the inability to establish and sustain adequate or spontaneous respiration upon delivery of the [newborn](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perinatal_asphyxia)

This condition can be dangerous if not discovered on time and can lead to death.
>[A 2008 bulletin from the World Health Organization estimates that 900,000 total infants die each year from birth asphyxia, making it a leading cause of death for newborns.[11]
In the United States, intrauterine hypoxia and birth asphyxia was listed as the tenth leading cause of neonatal death](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perinatal_asphyxia)

Looking at the above statistics you can find out that birth asphyxia has actually claimed a lot of children's life and has been known to be one of the leading cause of death in the world.

My question now is, what is actually the cause of this condition.

##### causes of birth asphyxia
The causes of birth asphyxia are grouped into two different types which are Antepartum causes and Intra partum causes.
###### Antepartum causes
¶Inadequate oxygenation of the maternal blood due to decrease in the mother blood cells or hypoventilation.

¶ decrease in the maternal blood pressure which could be as a result of compression of the vena cava and aorta can lead to birth asphyxia.
¶ premature separation of the placenta and its insufficiency are also another factor that could result to birth asphyxia.

###### Intra partum causes

¶ Inability of the uterus to relax due to excess secretion of oxytocin
¶ when giving birth takes a lot of time, this could possibly result to a child having birth asphyxia

¶ infection, knotting of umbilical cord and anemic baby can develop this disease.

Haven known the causes of birth asphyxia, let us as well list the signs and symptoms of it.

Unusual skin tone,low heart rate,weak reflexes, weak muscle tone, low blood pressure,poor circulation, abnormal blood clotting and lack of urination.

Birth asphyxia can be very dangerous and have caused a lot death in children. It is much advisable to go through the sign and symptoms to help you understand it's mechanism to know if a child is battling with it.

If peradventure you discovered the signs and symptoms of birth asphyxia in any child treatment should commence immediately.

###### Treatment
Treating birth asphyxia is determined by the stage when this condition manifest. If probably it is being noticed before delivery it means the mother should be provided with extra oxygen.

The new born should be put on respirator
and suctioning away of fluid from the airway.

In a case of severe birth asphyxia the child should be put in an oxygen tank where oxygen can be passed down to the baby for it's survival.

Others includes
>induced hypothermia to cool the body and help prevent brain damage
medication to regulate blood pressure
dialysis to support the kidneys and remove excess waste from the body
medication to help control seizures
intravenous (IV) nutrition
a breathing tube to supply nitric oxide
life support with a heart and [lung pump](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/birth-asphyxia#treatment)

All this are necessary whenever a child is found out to be in this situation. This will enable to the baby to recover if the condition is not that severe.

##### Conclusion
Birth asphyxia is a medical condition that happens in a new born child or baby. This condition can be very dangerous and have claimed a lot of children's life.

Noticing the signs of this condition on time is always necessary in other to prevent or reduce the rate at which children dies from the disease.
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##### References
###### ¶[birth asphyxia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perinatal_asphyxia)
###### ¶[treatment of birth asphyxia](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/birth-asphyxia#effects)
###### ¶[birth asphyxia symptoms](https://www.seattlechildrens.org/conditions/birth-asphyxia/#:~:text=What%20is%20birth%20asphyxia%3F,can%20happen%20without%20anyone%20knowing)