Neonatal morbidity in a hospital at Shimla.
During the study period there were 2063 live births. Of these 573 (27.8%) were low birth weight (LBW), 277 (13.4%) preterm and 148 (7.1%) small for date (SFD) babies. In all, 263 (12.7%) newborns suffered from one or the other morbidity. Birth asphyxia of varying severity developed in 130 (6.3%) babies [88 LBW and 42 normal birth weight (NBW) (p < 0.001)]. Respiratory distress syndrome was diagnosed in 82 (3.9%) babies, most being due to hyaline membrane diseases (31.7%), which affected 26 (9.4%) of preterm babies. Deep infections were seen in 109 (5.3%) newborns [60 LBW and 49 NBW, (p < 0.001)] and superficial infections were seen in 79 (3.8%) babies [46 LBW and 33 NBW, (p < 0.001)]. Hyperbilirubinemia was detected in 78 (3.8%) babies. In one fifth of the babies, the cause of hyperbilirubinemia remained unidentified even after detailed investigations. Hypothermia was observed in 59 (2.9%) newborns [48 LBW and 11 NBW, (p < 0.001] and congenital malformations were seen in 24 (1.7%) babies. Morbidity was found to be high amongst LBW and preterm babies. The incidence of deep infections and hypothermia was high in our study.
Kaushik
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, H.P.
Grover
N
N
Parmer
V R
VR
Grover
P S
PS
Kaushik
R
R
D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000453:epidemiology