Early predictors of neurodevelopmental outcome in high risk infants.

OBJECTIVE: To find out a few simple and easily elicitable items at three and six months of age that can predict neurodevelopmental outcome at one year in high risk babies. DESIGN: One year longitudinal follow up study. SETTING: Hospital based study including inborn and outborn infants discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a referral hospital, followed up in a High Risk Clinic. METHODS: Sixty high risk babies were followed up longitudinally for a period of one year. A detailed neurodevelopmental examination was done with special attention to the following items-axillary suspension, head support, social smile, disappearance of primitive reflexes and neurobehavior at three months age while pull to sit, rolling over, sitting momentarily without support, transfer of objects and voluntary reach were evaluated at six months age. Bayley Scales of Infant Development (Baroda Norms) was used for assessing the outcome at one year. RESULTS: Babies with absence of social smile, abnormal neurobehavior at three months and absent pulling to sit position, absent voluntary reach, and absent transfer of objects, remained delayed at one year. The specificity of each of these items was 100%. These items had a positive predictive value of 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Inability to achieve social smile and abnormal neurobehavior at three months age and absence of pulling to sit position, transfer of objects and voluntary reach at six months age, warrant early intervention. These items are easy to elicit, do not require any special kit or elaborate training. Hence these items can be tested even by those working at the primary level or in office practice.

Neurologic sequelae in high risk infants--a three year follow up.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the neurologic sequelae in high risk infants. DESIGN: A three year longitudinal follow up. SETTING: Inborn and outborn infants discharged from the Neonatal Special Care Unit (NSCU) of a referral hospital. METHODS: High risk infants were identified for follow up using predetermined risk criteria. A detailed neurodevelopmental examination was done 3 monthly in the first year and 6 monthly subsequently. The Amiel-Tison Method, Bayley Scales of Infant Development and Raval's Scale for social maturity were used. EEG was done in children with seizures. Hearing and ophthalmic assessments were done at 6 months. RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty six high risk infants and 70 normal control infants came for regular follow up. Out of these, 16 (4.8%) had cerebral palsy and 11 had associated mental retardation. Six other children had mental retardation without motor problems. None of the children in the control group had any neurological problems. Sensorineural hearing loss was present in 5 (1.5%) children while 1 subject had corfical blindness. Three children with cerebral palsy had infantile myoclonus, nine had generalized seizures and one child had a focal seizure. The incidence of seizure disorders was 3.9%. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of major handicap in our study was low. Many of the risk factors which caused adverse outcome, could have been prevented by good antenatal and perinatal care.

A longitudinal follow up of neurodevelopment of high risk newborns--a comparison of Amiel-Tison's method with Bayley Scales of Infant Development.

The neurodevelopment of 42 high risk babies and 7 control babies was assessed longitudinally till the age of 12 months by using two different methods. The method of neurological evaluation described by Amiel-Tison was used, and the results compared with those of a standard developmental test, the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. The Amiel-Tison method was found to be a sensitive test for picking up abnormalities till the age of 9 months, but lost its advantage over the Bayley Scales at 12 months. Besides, the test was quick, simple to learn and did not need a special kit or a trained psychologist and was hence found to be a good screening method.

Biotypes of Gardnerella vaginalis isolated from non-specific vaginitis patients in Bombay.

The incidence and prevalent biotypes of G. vaginalis in patients with non-specific vaginitis from Bombay, was studied. Of 300 patients screened, 105 were diagnosed to have nonspecific vaginitis (NSV). G. vaginalis was isolated from 71 per cent patients with NSV; 34.6 and 29.3 per cent G. vaginalis were belonging to biotypes 5 and 1 respectively. In 55 per cent patient, G. vaginalis was associated with anaerobes. None of the isolated strains of G. vaginalis was sensitive to 5 micrograms metronidazole disc whereas 93 per cent of the strains were sensitive to 50 micrograms metronidazole disc.