13.1. INTRODUCTION TO NEONATOLOGY
Neonatology is a branch of pediatrics that studies anatomical and functional features of children from the moment of birth over the first 28 days of their life. The goal of neonatology is to provide physiological conditions for healthy development of the child in all periods of his life; neonatology provides diagnosis and treatment of disorders and diseases, and rehabilitation of children.
As an independent science neonatology emerged in the 20th century. The terms neonatology and neonatologists were introduced by an American Alexander Schaffer in 1960.
The background for neonatology development was laid in the 19th century; it was obstetricians who made a considerable contribution to this field of expertise. Obstetricians proposed methods of newborn resuscitation upon delivery, of care and feeding of the premature newborn, disinfecting the milk to reduce mortality. Introduction of principles of aseptics by I.F. Semmelweis and O.V. Holmes to obstetric practice in 1860s and 1870s permitted a decrease in mortality of both puerperant mothers and their newborns.
Considerable credit is due to R. Virchow for his works on pathological anatomy of neonates which promoted the development of pediatrics at large and neonatol-ogy in particular. R. Little established the pathogenetic role of neonate asphyxia in the etiology of infantile paralysis. K. Schmorl developed the notion of kernicterus (nuclear jaundice) in newborns based on his finding bilirubin crystals in cerebral nuclei. Clinician D. Hutchinson described the triad of signs of congenital syphilis (1858); French obstetrician S. Tarnier introduced oxygen inhalation into care for premature infants.
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13.2. NEWBORN CHARACTERISTICS