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ARTICLES:
Lucia Jane Smith, Peter Paul van Asperen, Karen Olwyn McKay, Hiran Selvadurai, and Dominic Adam Fitzgerald
Reduced Exercise Capacity in Children Born Very Preterm
Pediatrics 2008; 122: e287-e293 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read eLetters] Preterm babies grown up
Anthony J Moretti   (20 November 2008)

Preterm babies grown up 20 November 2008
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Anthony J Moretti,
Physician
Miami, Florida

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Re: Preterm babies grown up

tony.moretti{at}gmail.com Anthony J Moretti

The article by Smith, et al regarding the longitudinal impairment of lung function in preterm children is noteworthy. I am also a "NICU- graduate," born at 28 weeks. I was born over 30 years ago, long before the use of surfactant. While I have no overt respiratory symptoms, I was never the, "most-gifted athlete,"...always seeming to run out of breath faster than the other children.

With more and more preterm babies growing up, parents should be cognizant of their child's individual abilities and limitations.

More research into the long-term effects of very premature children would be welcomed: school ability, occuational choices, emotional relationships. While medical technology keeps advancing our success in the survival of prematurity, we should also be aware of their long-term developmental issues and needs.

Anthony Moretti MD

Conflict of Interest:

None declared