ABSTRACT
Introduction: Retinopathy of prematurity is a vasoproliferativedisorder of the retina among premature infants. It is animportant cause of preventable blindness in children. Recentadvances in neonatal care in the last decade have improved thesurvival rates of premature infants, consequently the incidenceof retinopathy of prematurity has increased in parallel. Theobjective of the present study was to identify the risk factorsassociated with development of ROP in preterm neonates.Material and Methods: This was a prospective observationalstudy conducted on all preterm neonates admitted in theneonatology section of Government Medical College Srinagarwho fulfilled the criteria for ROP screening.Results: A total of 150 preterm neonates were screened, out ofwhich 32 had ROP of different stages. 7 babies were detectedwith stage 3 ROP and needed laser therapy. Risk factorsassociated with ROP were studiedConclusion: Our study revealed 21.3% incidence of ROP.Prematurity, low birth weight and oxygen therapy were foundto be strong predictors of ROP. Sepsis,blood transfusionand apnea were found to be statistically significant factorsassociated with ROP
ABSTRACT
Background: The measurement of body temperature is an important parameter in neonatal care as it is useful in the assessment of clinical state and necessary for the provision of appropriate nursing support. Hypothermia is one of the important risk factor in causing death in newborns of all weight and gestational age groups. Aim and objectives: To compare rectal, infra red tympanic and infra red skin temperature in term neonates and to assess the accuracy and effectiveness of these non invasive thermometers in term neonates. Materials and methods: It was a Hospital based prospective, non randomized study conducted at Department of Pediatrics in G.B Pant Hospital (neonatology section) an associated Hospital of GMC Srinagar. This study was conducted over a period of 1 year from April 2013 to march 2014. Results: Total of 300 term neonates between the age of 1- 29 days were included in the study. Mean temperature recorded with rectal thermometer was 36.58 0C, with Infra red tympanic thermometer was 36.47 0 C and with Infra red skin thermometer was 36.55 0C. Difference between means of rectal and Infra red tympanic thermometer was statistically significant (P=0.015) and difference between means of rectal and Infra red skin thermometer was statistically not significant (P = 0.18). Coefficient of correlation between rectal and tympanic was 0.772 and between rectal and skin was 0.955 which was statistically significant in both (P valve < 0.001). Conclusion: Non contact Infra red skin thermometer is a very simple, safe and reliable method for measurement of body temperature in neonates. It can be used in peripheral settings as it is user friendly as well as patient friendly