ABSTRACT
Background: Late preterm birth (34-36 weeks) infants are at greater risk of (2-3 fold) compared to near term or term babies. The present study was done with the purpose to examine related morbidities and outcomes among late preterm infants.Methods: The study included all late preterm babies (34 0/7 weeks-36 6/7 weeks) admitted to the Basaveshwar Teaching and General Hospital and Sangameshwar Hospital for a period of one and half year (December 2013-May 2015). Short term outcome was assessed in the form of neonatal morbidities and mortality during the study period.Results: A total of 203 late Preterm neonates comprised the study group. Male preponderance was noticed with a ratio of 1.5:1. This study confirmed that late-preterm infants are a population at risk of increased neonatal morbidity. Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia requiring phototherapy forms the major one followed by sepsis, respiratory distress, and feed intolerance. Majority of late preterm neonates required more than 7 days hospital duration.Conclusions: Late preterm infants suffer a large number of intercurrent medical problems during the neonatal period, especially increased likelihood of resuscitation in the delivery room, hypothermia, hypoglycemia, jaundice requiring phototherapy, respiratory pathologies, sepsis and feeding intolerance. Prolonging pregnancy to the maximum safest gestation will result in decrease in such morbidities.
ABSTRACT
Background: The aim of study was to identify the asymptomatic hyparnatremia in exclusively breastfed neonates and to study the factors associated with it.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2010 to October 2012 in Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital, A. M. U., Aligarh. Consecutive term appropriate-for-gestational age and asymptomatic neonates who were exclusively breastfed since birth were enrolled.Results: A total of 1360 term neonates were screened, out of which 145 neonates in each early and late neonatal group were enrolled. Prevalence of hypernatremia in 290 patients was 4.48% (n=13) with mean serum sodium level of 156.6'5.5 mmol/L, ranging from 151 to 167 mmol/L. It was 16 times more common in early compare to late neonates (adjusted odds ratio=16.074, P=0.001), 6 times more common in primi mothers (adjusted odds ratio=6.037, P=0.010) and 7 times more common during summer season (May-August) (adjusted odds ratio=6.566, P=0.017). Other variables like sex, mode of delivery and blood urea levels do not show significant association with hypernatremia. There was a significant positive correlation of serum sodium level with blood urea (r=0.123, P=0.037) and serum creatinine levels (r=0.157, P=0.007), and a negative correlation with blood sugar levels, but it was not significant (r=-0.072, P=0.224).Conclusions: The prevalence of hypernatremia in exclusively breastfed term asymptomatic neonates is 4.8%, and is more common in early neonatal period, in summer season and in babies born to primi mothers. There was a significant positive correlation of serum sodium with blood urea and creatinine levels.