Correlation of Clinical Profile and Electroencephalographic Finding in Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Single-Center Experience from Bangladesh

Background: Perinatal asphyxia and resultant hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is not an uncommon phenomenon in a developing country, like Bangladesh. Electroencephalogram (EEG) is regarded as an effective prognostic tool. Correlation of clinical profiles and EEG findings of HIE patients arenot commonly observed in Bangladesh. The aim of the study was to observe the clinical profile and EEG changes in different stages of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and compare them in a tertiary care hospital.Material & Methods:This is a cross-sectional observational study conducted for a period of six months in Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka. Sarnat and Sarnat score was used to classify HIE. 20 asphyxiated neonates without HIE were selected as the control group (group II) while 30asphyxiated neonates with HIE, were selected as the case group (group I) by purposive sampling. Clinical profiles, EEG findings, and immediate outcomes were observed and compared between the two groups.Results:73.3% patients were delivered at term and 30% patients were delivered at home in group I. 70% patients’ delivery were conducted by doctor in group I and 75% in group II. 63.3% patients had meconium stain in group I and 25% in group II, which was found significant. 46.7% had prolong labor in group I and 20% in group II, 40% had premature ruptured membrane (PROM) in group I and 40% in group II. Hypothermia, weak primitive reflexes, hypotonia, lethargy and seizure were significantly higher in group I. Changes in EEG correlated between the two groups and was found significant. Also, patients in group I, needed prolong hospital stay.Conclusions:The clinical profiles and EEG changes in patients with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy was concluded that there is significant association with meconium stain, seizure, hypothermia, weak primitive reflexes, lethargic, miosis, hypotonia, poor APGAR score, burst suppression & SET findings in EEG and prolonged hospital stay in prenatal asphyxia with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

Vertical transmission of dengue: first case report from Bangladesh.

We report a case of vertical transmission of dengue infection in a new born from Bangladesh. The mother was primigravida with an uneventful antenatal period except the fever she developed at 37 weeks of gestation. She underwent cesarean section for decreased fetal movement. The fever lasted for 7 days and was associated with intense bodyache, and a positive tourniquet test. She did not experience any hemorrhages including from the surgical wound. Her platelet count fell at its lowest to 100,000/mm3. She had bilateral mild pleural effusions and positive anti-dengue antibodies (both IgG and IgM). She received symptomatic treatment. The baby was deeply meconium stained and was resuscitated by a pediatrician. His postnatal period went well until day-3 of life when he developed fever and respiratory distress. There were no signs of meconiun aspiration syndrome (MAS) and the septic work up was negative. The platelets count fell to its lowest of 40,000/mm3 on day-3 and day-5 of his illness. Anti-dengue antibodies (both IgG and IgM) were positive with a nearly four-fold rise of IgM antibodies in the convalescent sera. The boy was treated with platelet transfusions and was discharged on day-6 after becoming ill. This report emphasizes that in a dengue epidemic or when dengue is endemic (which Bangladesh has experienced recently), a pregnant woman with fever, myalgia and/or bleeding manifestations should raise a high suspicion that the baby may develop the disease, and both the mother and baby should be closely followed-up. Viral isolation could not be done due to the unavailability of the test.

Common transfusion-transmitted infectious agents among thalassaemic children in Bangladesh.

Transfusion-dependent children are more prone to acquiring various transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs), such as hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), HIV, and others. Since the magnitude of these infections among thalassaemic children in Bangladesh is not well-known, this study was conducted to assess the prevalence of TTIs among them (who received more than three blood transfusions) compared to their age- and sex-matched controls (non-thalassaemics and those who had never had a transfusion). Seromarkers for HBV, HCV, HDV, Treponema pallidum, and HIV were tested, and the results were analyzed using SPSS/Windows 10.5. Of 259 children studied, 152 (58.69%) were thalassaemic (mean age 6.8 +/- 3.6 years), and 107 were controls (mean age 6.7 +/- 3.53 years). The HBV and HCV-markers were found significantly more often among multi-transfused thalassaemic children than among the controls in terms of HBsAg (13.8% vs 6.5%, p < 0.04), anti-HBc total (39.5% vs 9.4%, p < 0.0001), and anti-HCV (12.5% vs 0.9%, p < 0.0001). HBeAg did not differ (p = 0.82) between the thalassaemics (9.52%) and the controls (14.28%), whereas anti-HBe differed (0% vs 57.14%, p < 0.003). Neither the thalassaemics nor the controls were positive for HDV, HIV, or T. pallidum. Since more thalassaemic children acquired hepatitis B and C infections through multiple blood transfusions, it is recommended that the safe blood-transfusion programme be strengthened and mass vaccination against HBV (even who suffer from HCV) in Bangladesh be undertaken.