Question & Answer in Newborn

 

  Mohammad H. Soltanzadeh , MD,ID

        Professor of Pediatrics,  Shaheed  Beheshti  University

         Of Medical Sciences  , Tehran , IRAN
 

Question ?

•  Do infants receiving phototherapy require additional fluids
 

Answer

•    Unless there is evidence of dehydration

•    Routine IV or other supplementation of term & near term is not necessary

•    Preterm infants < 1500 gr. Should receive a 25% increment while receiving phototherapy
 

Question ?

•   You are informed during sign-out rounds that a newborn is suspected of having Funisitis . Where should you look for that infection ?

Answer

•    Funisitis is inflammation of the umbilical cord vessels & Wharton’s jelly , & it has been described as either an acute exudative  or subacute necrotizing process that  accompanies chorioamnionitis  

•    The predominant organisms that have been identified as etiologic agents are gram-negative bacteria , including :

•     E-coli

•     Klebsiella

•     Pseudomonas

•     Gram- positive organisms e.g.Srep,Staph & Candida
 

Question ?

•   Which infants require ophthalmologic evaluation for Retinopathy of prematurity ( ROP )
 

Answer

•     The AAP recommends that an individual experienced in neonatal ophthalmology & indirect ophthalmoscopy examine the Retinas of all neonates with a birth weight of < 1500 gr or a G.A. of < 28 wks & of those :

•    Selected infants weighing between 1500-2000 gr who have had unstable clinical courses placing them at increased Risk.

•     Unless full Retinal vascularization is noted on examination.

•   All infants should undergo two examinations :

•    1st performed at 4-6 wks postnatal age or 31-32 wks postconceptional age whichever is later
 

Question ?

• What are the manifestations of drug withdrawal in the neonates ?
 

Answer

•    W = Wakefulness

•     I = Irritability

•     T = Tremulousness, Temperature variation, Tachypnea

•     H = Hyperactivity, High – pitched persistent cry, Hyperacusis,  Hyperreflexia, Hypertonus

•    D= Diarrhea, Diaphoresis, Disorganized suck 

•    R = Rub marks, Respiratory distress, Rhinorrhea

•     A = Apneic attacks, Autonomic disfunction

•     W = Weight loss or failure to gain weight

•     A = Alkalosis ( respiratory )

•     L = Lacrimation
 

Question ?

•  What bone is the most frequently fructured in the Newborn ?
 

Answer

•  The clavicle

•    This injury which stems from excessive traction during delivery

•    Generally results in a greenstick fructure
 

Question ?

•   Should palpable lymph nodes in a newborn be considered pathologic ?
 

Answer

•     NO

•     Up to 25% of newborns have palpable nods

•     Particularly in the inguinal & cervical regions

•     By 1 month of age prevalence is nearly 40%
 

Question ?

•   How valuable is the foot printing of newborns for the permanent medical record ?
 

Answer

•   This is a time-honored tradition that is , alas a minimal benefit

•    Although the AAP recommended discontinuing the practice in 1983 as a result  of the fact that in nearly 80% of cases

•    The quality was so poor as to render the print useless

•     Up to 80% of the U.S. hospitals continue foot printing as a means of identification.

•     Foot printing is legally mandated only in New York state 

 

•    Recently, DNA fingerprinting has been introduced

•    But it is primarily available through private commercial ventures
 

Question ?

•    Mothers must stop BF if:

•    They have mastitis

•   They are engorged with milk

•    The baby has thrush
 

 Answer

•    None of the above

•    Frequent BF will actually help both mastitis & engorgement

•    Should not be discouraged

•    Thrush is a mild infection

•    Not reason to stop BF
 

Question ?

•    Babies need vitamin D if :

•    They are BF exclusively

•    They are Premature

•    They are Formula fed
 

Answer

•  All of the above
 

Question ?

•  How soon should infants be evaluated for jaundice after discharge ?
 

Answer

•     All infants discharged before the age of 24 hrs

•     should be seen by 72 hrs of age

•    Infants discharged between 24-48 hrs

•     Should be evaluated by 96 hrs

•    Those discharged after 48 hrs

•     Should be seen by 120 hrs
 

Question ?

•  What factors suggest hemolytic disease as a cause of jaundice in the newborn ?
 

Answer

•     Family history of hemolytic disease

•     Bilirubin rise of > 0.5 mg /dl/hr

•    Failure of phototherapy to lower serum bilirubin levels

•     Ethnicity suggestive of inherited disease

•     e.g. G6PD

•   Onset of jaundice before 24hrs of age

•    Reticulocytosis > 8% at birth

•    > 5% during 1st 2-3 days

•    > 2% after 1st wk

 

•   Changes in peripheral smear: microspherocytosis,anisocytosis, target cells

•    Significant decrease in hemoglobin

•    Pallor & Hepatosplenomegaly
 

Question ?

•  What are the complications of exchange transfusions in the newborn ?


Answer

•    Acute:

•     Hypocalcemia ( binding of ca by citrate )

•     Thrombocytopenia

•     Hyperkalemia

•    Hypovolemia

•     Diminished oxygen delivery ( blood stored >5-7 days)

•     Late: Anemia, Graft-versus-host disease
 

Question ?

•  Is the ESR or CRP more helpful in the management of osteomyelitis ?


Answer

•   The ESR was significantly elevated on they 2-5

•   ESR slowly returned to normal within 3 wks of therapy

•    CRP rises within 6-12 hrs of a triggering stimulus

•     Returns to normal within a wk of therapy

•     Secondary rise in either ESR or CRP could be a sign of recrudescence
 

Question ?

• What is the presentation of Maxillary Osteomyelitis ?
 

Answer

•   Early edema & redness of the Cheeks 

•   Unilateral Nasal Discharge

•   Swelling of the eyelid with conjunctivitis 

 

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