Charmaine Gill.
Evaluation and management of small for gestational age (SGA) Fetus.
Med Today Jan ;2(2):59-64.

Small for gestational fetus is an important issue not just in our country but also in all the developing & developed world. It makes a disproportionate contribution to perinatal mortality and morbidity. This article gives a review of management of small for gestational age fetus. The primary focus is on identifying such cases and timely intervention. There is no local data, however SGA are responsible for 3-10 % of all pregnancies. In developed countries smoking and alcohol in pregnancy are the major factors responsible for small for gestation fetus. In developing countries where malnutrition is prevalent low body mass index and short stature are responsible for SGA. In USA after the September 11th 2001 incident, Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is being observed in women becoming pregnant in the vicinity of World Trade Centre due to soot and air pollution. However there are different etiologies responsible for small for gestational age fetuses. Their detection is an important aspect of antenatal care. Various modalities are available but all have their limitations and none of these yardsticks are able to detect any statistically significant abnormalities. Identification is crucial and timely intervention can result in favorable outcome.

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