Root causes for late presentation of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia in Egypt.
This study aimed to understand the reasons for late presentation of cases of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. We administered a questionnaire to parents of 130 infants with severe jaundice admitted to Cairo University Children's Hospital neonatal intensive care unit at age > or = 6 days over an 18-month period. Although 125 infants (96.2%) were delivered in a health care facility, no discharge physical examination was performed in 99/125 cases (79.2%). No parent was given instructions about neonatal jaundice and no follow-up appointments were scheduled. Parents of 109 infants sought medical advice prior to hospital readmission; most babies were assessed clinically, but serum bilirubin was measured in only one-quarter of cases (28/109). Medical advice included placing the infant under a neon lamp at home (87/109 cases), advice to supplement breastfeeding (75/109) and prescribed medications, including vitamins (15/109). Increasing the availability of inexpensive point-of-care diagnostic instruments and phototherapy units in health care facilities are urgently needed.
Department of Paediatrics, University of Cairo, Cairo, Egypt. imanisk@hotmail.com
I
I
Iskander
R
R
Gamaleldin
M
M
Kabbani
D017668:Age of Onset; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight; D001942:Breast Feeding; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051556:Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007567:Jaundice, Neonatal / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors
D001663:Bilirubin