Glossary

neonate – a baby that is 0 to 28 days old.

prematurity (pregnancy) – when a baby is delivered after only 37 weeks or less.

CDC – Centre for Disease Control, part of the USA health administration.

PT (prothrombin time; pro-time) – PT testing measures the amount of time it takes for blood to clot. When the liver is damaged, its ability to make clotting factors is impaired. If this time increases – referred to as a prolonged PT interval – it shows that the liver is not working so well.

arrhythmia is the medical terms for a disturbance of the heart’s natural rhythm.

• tachycardia refers to when the heart beats too fast.
• bradycardia is when the heart beats too slowly.