Infant Loss of Consciousness and Lethargy- Birth Disorder Symptom

Brain Hemorrhaging: Serious Condition

A concerning diagnosis that can cause an infant to experience lethargy or loss of consciousness,  is a brain hemorrhage. This can be a serious danger to your child. With this condition, a blood vessel bursts within the brain, and as a result, it can flood the brain with blood. This serious birth disorder has other symptoms, too. For example, your child may have a hard time swallowing, vomit frequently, and experience weakness in the arms. The most common reason for this happening in infants is due to the mother having high blood pressure, blood vessel abnormalities, or a blood disorder.

Hypoxia and Anoxia

Hypoxia is when there is an inadequate amount of oxygen being delivered to the cells and tissues of the body.  When a child suffers from anoxia, it means a total absence of oxygen. Nevertheless, both can pose a danger to the health of your child. In many cases, anoxia can lead to brain damage that will cause cerebral palsy (CP).  CP is a dangerous birth injury that will affect a child lifelong. If your child was born with cerebral palsy, you may be entitled to financial support. In some cases, when your child does not get enough oxygen, they will want to sleep all the time. Fortunately, a newer form of treatment known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may help manage this condition. HBOT exposes the child to 100 percent oxygen. While it may not undo all of the damage, it can often reduce the risk that your child will experience permanent issues.

Experiencing a Brain Ischemia

Opposite to a brain hemorrhage where the brain is flooded with blood, brain ischemia happens when the brain doesn’t have enough blood. Many of the same symptoms that define a brain hemorrhage are consistent with brain ischemia.

In some cases, your child sleeping more could be benign, meaning not a sign of any serious underlying issue. However, it is important to talk with your child’s doctor to ensure that nothing more serious is affecting your child. Let’s say that when your baby was born, he or she experienced difficulty breathing. If that were the case, you will want to keep an especially close eye on your child. Doing so helps to identify any signs of brain damage.  The sooner a brain injury is diagnosed, the quicker an intervention can occur.

Article Citations

  1. Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Babies, Stanford Children's Hospital
  2. Stroke in Children, Stanford Children's Hospital