Q: My 8 months old daughter had perinatal asphyxia. She has undergone treatment and is fine now. Do we need to take any other medical examination?

A:There are grades of severity of perinatal asphyxia. Most cases will escape without any sequelae. However, there may be lasting sequelae in some children. The extent of sequelae depends upon the severity of asphyxia. Important sequelae include delayed development, seizure and in some cases more subtle findings like delay in acquiring fine motor skills, language, intellect impairment etc. For this reason, all babies with asphyxia are advised regular follow-up with a pediatrician at least during the first year during which most problems are likely to manifest. If your child has not been on a regular follow-up, she should be evaluated at least once, by a pediatrician, who can then assure you regarding the normalcy of your child and also guide you if further evaluation is needed.