RESUMEN
Background: The prevalence of hearing loss is higher in neonates admitted to NICU compared to the general population. Preterm babies are more vulnerable to the hearing damage due to their immature inner ear exposing them to various high frequency noises in the NICU to which they were not accustomed. Most NICU in India exceed the recommended sound levels. In order to reduce damage to the ears, foam-based earplugs are used to reduce the sound intensity reaching the ears of these premature babies.Methods: Babies admitted to NICU are allocated alternatively to receive earplugs or not. Cases are preterm babies with earplugs and controls are the ones without earplugs. The incidence of hearing loss is found by OAE testing of the ears at the end of NICU stay.Results: Out of 40 in each group, 6 babies in control group failed the OAE compared the 3 in the earplug group. Babies who did wear earplugs had longer period of NICU stay.Conclusions: Use of earplugs in babies admitted to NICU reduced the incidence of hearing loss and also length of NICU stay.
RESUMEN
Background: Hypothyroidism (HT) in pediatric age group is of prime importance because of it's varied presentations. Missing a diagnosis of hypothyroidism is disastrous since it results in mental retardation (MR). Hence, it is mandatory to know the various types of clinical presentation in clinical practice.Methods: Study includes 30 children who were diagnosed to have hypothyroidism. Detail history were taken thorough examination carried out and thyroid function tests were obtained in all the cases. Results were statistically analyzed in Microsoft office excel 2007.Results: Majority of the children were diagnosed at the age of 1-3 month of age. Males and females were almost equally affected, 70% of the children had constipation, 26.7% of the cases presented with umbilical hernia, feeding difficulties were seen in 23.3%, abdominal distention and prolonged jaundice were seen in 20% of the cases. 10% of the cases presented with short stature and 6.6% children showed obesity.Conclusions: Detailed history and examination of each infant will help in early diagnosis of congenital hypothyroidism (CH). High index of clinical suspicion should be made when any of clinical features of hypothyroidism are present.
RESUMEN
Background: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is a practical low-cost intervention which is very cost effective in developing countries for babies weighing less than 2500g. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of post-natal mothers of LBW babies after giving a teaching session by trained personnel in a tertiary care center in Karnataka.Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study of 90 mothers whose neonates were weighing less than 2.5kg from May to October 2018.Mothers were interviewed at enrolment and were assessed about their knowledge and were oriented on its practice.Results: At recruitment (95.5%) mothers did not know about KMC.80% of mothers followed in first sitting and 86.6% of the mothers felt photo exhibition was better than verbal.96.6% of mothers thought KMC is beneficial and it was believed that other family members can even provide KMC.Conclusions: Maternal knowledge was low before now they are happily practicing KMC in hospital and thereafter at home.