Ventilatory drive is primarily dependent on response to increased levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and acid in the blood. A secondary stimulus is hypoxia. Responses to these stimuli are impaired in premature infants due to immaturity of specialized regions of the brain that sense these changes. In addition, premature infants have an exaggerated response to laryngeal stimulation (a normal reflex that closes the airway as a protective measure).
Apnea of prematurity
Infant respiratory distress syndrome
Infantile apnea
Transient tachypnea of the newborn
Neonatal meningitis
Ichthyosis prematurity syndrome
Shaken baby syndrome
Neonatal sepsis