P91: Other disturbances of cerebral status of newborn

P91.3: Neonatal cerebral irritability

The brain is located inside the head. It receives, processes and stores sensory impressions. The brain controls movements and various physical functions.

There can be various reasons why a baby's brain reacts to stimuli more sensitively than usual. It may be caused by inflammations triggered by certain pathogens or by fever, for example. Metabolic disorders can also result in an exaggerated reaction. Another reason may be a lack of oxygen.

Stimuli can include sensory impressions that the baby hears, sees or feels. If the brain is reacting more sensitively than usual to these, minor stimuli can produce major reactions. The child's reflexes may be stronger than usual, for example. A reflex is the body's response to a stimulus. This response can be a muscle movement, for example. Muscle tension may also be increased. The muscles may also tremble or twitch.