Simian Neonatology: III. The Causes of Neonatal Mortality

The causes of death were studied in 82 perinatal and neonatal monkeys. Forty-three of the 82 neonatal deaths were caused by inflammatory diseases (mainly pneumonia), intrauterine distress, and trauma. In 28 of the 82 monkeys, a major disease process could not be demonstrated. Intrauterine distress and antepartum death with maceration were commoner causes of death in premature infants; trauma and inflammatory disease occurred more often in mature infants. Forty-nine of the 82 neonatal deaths occurred before the second day of life. During the last 3 weeks of the neonatal period, the majority of deaths were caused by infection.