Analysis of hyperbilirubinemia in Omani newborn babies

Jaundice in newborn babies is caused by a number of etiological factors, some of which may vary from place to place. This study was aimed at identification of etiological factors for jaundice in our region. We studied 150 babies at Khoula Hospital, Muscat, between January and June 2003 for significant clinical jaundice extending at least up to the trunk area and analyzed relevant maternal and infant data. Glucose-6-Phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] deficiency and ABO incompatibility were seen causing jaundice in 52% of the babies. The mean age at maximum serum bilirubin [SBR] was 82.9 hours [S.E 3.1] and the mean maximum SBR was 254.5 micro mol/L [SE 6.1]. G6PD deficiency and ABO incompatibility remain the major causative factors for jaundice in this population and there is a need to closely monitor babies with family history of G6PD deficiency for jaundice in first few days of life

Trends and causes of perinatal mortality in Muscat region

Despite improvements in antenatal care, the perinatal mortality in the Sultanate of Oman remains high compared to the developed countries. This study was aimed at the identification of rates, causes and risk factors affecting the perinatal mortality at Khoula Hospital in Muscat region. The study covered 100 stillbirths and 60 neonatal deaths from January 1999 through December 2001, out of a total of 10,896 babies born in this hospital during this period. The still birth rate was 10.7 per thousand births and early neonatal death rate was 5.5 per thousand live births with an overall perinatal mortality rate of 16.2 per 1000 births. The major risk factors identified were maternal morbidity in the form of diabetes, toxemia and hypertension, rural hospital care and male sex. 39% stillbirths were fresh and 59% babies weighed more than 2 kilograms. 48% were of more than 37 weeks gestation. 77% mothers were between 20 to 35 years of age. 68% mothers had more than 6 antenatal visits and 76% mothers visited for antenatal care in the first trimester with 88% visiting the hospital at least once during the last 4 weeks of pregnancy. The main reasons for early neonatal deaths were gross prematurity, pulmonary hypoplasia secondary to congenital renal anomalies, and multiple congenital anomalies with 25% babies weighing less than 750 grams. Conclusions: Stillbirths occur with equal frequency in all age groups of mothers in our region. There is a trend towards a decrease in the still birth rate, which is the main contributor to a high perinatal mortality rate in this region. Improvements in antenatal care during the last 4 weeks of pregnancy in moribund mothers and icreasing support for the gross preterm babies will lead to a marked improvement in perinatal mortality rates

Meningitis in children of Dhofar region

Twenty children were confirmed to have contracted acute bacterial meningitis in one year. The CSF of 70% of them grew organisms and they were mainly H.influenzae. Meningococcus disease was not a problem in this study and there was no sensational variation in the incidence pattern. All organisms isolated were sensitive to the third generation cephalosporins but two were resistant to chloramphenicol