Comments on: NEWS:STEROIDS USED IN PREEMIES MAY CAUSE BRAIN DAMAGE

By: Geoff

Geoff — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 04:51:31 +0000

In reply to “Physicians/Nurse Practitioners have been using steriods on premies forever in order to promote proper lung function.”

Your right, they have been given for a long time but it wasn’t until 2004 until they did a controlled study. Any deficits seen before were probably attributed to prematurity rather than drug treatment. When they looked at these children they found decreased IQ and motor coordination. Bear in mind that this was a controlled study in which both the physician and the family had no idea whether saline or a glucocorticoid was given.

By: krs

krs — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:40:22 +0000

Hmm I dunno I am grateful for them. My 10 year old brother was born 1lb 6 oz (3 moths premature)and is a healthy happy boy with a few minor obstacles like ADHD and a kidney that works at 10%. But if it weren’t for these drugs I’m sure he wouldn’t be alive

By: Sane

Sane — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:46:43 +0000

Ok, what a way to rattle my morning. My son was born premature and I was given the steriod solumedrum to stimulate his lung growth - I was supposed to get 2 shots of it but only got 1 because he came before the next shot was given to me. He was born at 31 weeks & he’s 15 months old now and seems perfectly fine, doesn’t seem “uncoordinated” or “unintelligent” in any way so I hope to God this is not to true in the majority of cases and that I don’t have some sort of nightmare to look forward to later. He didn’t get any additional shots of the stuff since he’s been born but you can imagine the alarm I felt after reading this post.
I would think the human brain is alot more complex than that of mice, so yeah, I would need more information on this before I end up goin’ postal on a hospital.

By: Katrina

Katrina — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:18:16 +0000

These health topics are a very nice addition to this site. The last one posted about Kidney Stones being linked to lack of water intake was very informative. Since reading that I make sure my daughter drinks a certain amount of water per day. I’m more conscious of it now. I also heard on the radio yesterday that certain carpet cleaning chemicals can cause a rare disease in young children. I forgot the name of the disease, but John Travolta’s daughter has it. One lady called up the radio to give details about it and she said that her granddaughter contracted the disease at 6 months and had to remain under a doctor’s care (specifically for treatment of the disease) up thru the age of 17.

By: Nina

Nina — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:21:14 +0000

Thats unsettling considering my baby was given steroids when she was born prematurely. I hope its not true.

By: Naija Gal

Naija Gal — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:08:35 +0000

Uh, yeah. Definitely needs more research.

Physicians/Nurse Practitioners have been using steriods on premies forever in order to promote proper lung function.

If damage is being done, why have we not seen mental or physical handicaps as they grow?

Now, as far as the “dips in IQ”, I would think that would be due to the underdevelopment of a premature baby.

More research please!