Pattern of congenital anomalies in newborns in a tertiary level hospital in Bangladesh

ABSTRACT

To find out frequency of various congenital malformations in neonates in a tertiary care hospital. Descriptive study. Department of Neonatology, Mymensingh Medical College Hospital [MMCH], Mymensingh, Bangladesh from April 2011 to March 2012. A total 6040 babies were studied in the neonatal period immediately after admission and all cases with congenital anomalies were enrolled. A detailed history for any risk factor was taken. A thorough physical examination was performed. Confirmation of internal defect was done by various imaging modalities; i.e., radiography, ultrasound, echocardiography and CT scan. A detailed history was taken regarding maternal age, gestational age, and previous history of delivery of abnormal baby. A total of 106 neonates had one or more congenital anomalies accounting to a frequency of 1.75% malformation. The number of congenital anomalies were more in males [MF=1.21] and in neonates of young and elderly mothers. The pattern of congenital anomalies related to head and neck, chest and gastrointestinal tract [20.75%], nervous system [19.81%], cardiovascular system [18.87%], musculoskeletal system [12.26%], genitourinary system [11.32%], chromosomal abnormalities [6.6%] and others [10.37%]. Overall frequency of congenital anomalies remained low. Most frequent anomalies were related to nervous system and cardiovascular system.