Neonatal illness and infections Flashcards
Legally ‘viable’ neonate
From 24 weeks
Neonatal period
1-28 days after birth
Perinatal period
24 weeks gestation to 7 days post birth
Classification of babies
Preterm - <37 weeks (6-8% of babies)
Term 37 -42 weeks
Post dates Over 42 weeks
Classification of baby weight
Low birth weight is <10 centile
Infant mortality
Stillbirth is intrauterine death after 24 weeks
Abortion is fetal loss before 24 weeks
Infant mortality is 7/1000, neonatal mortality is 5/1000 and perinatal mortality is 8/1000
Intra-uterine infections
Rubella - vaccinate before conception. Toxoplasmosis/syphilis/listeria - treat both in- and ex-utero. Hep B - vaccinate at birth. CMV/Herpes - treat after birth. HIV - treat mother before birth, C/S, treat baby after birth and avoid breast feeding
Neonatal diabetes
Congenital abnormalities are increased
Increased birth weight w/ organomegaly and polycthaemia
Hypoglycaemia after birth
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS)
Transition from Intra-uterine to extra-uterine life
Cardiopulmonary switch - forming a double circulation and closing shunts (foramen ovale and DA). Establishment of enteral feeding with gut flora and Vit K (should be given a perinatal dose)
Temperature maintenance and infection prevention
Apgar score
2 1 0
Appearance pink blue white
Pulse >100 <100 none
Grimace cough Grimace none
Activity Normal Some None
Respiration strong weak none
Normal 7-10 Mildly depressed 4-6 Severely depressed 0-3
CNS disorders in the term neonate
Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) Physical birth trauma Meningitis Fits/epilepsy Inherited Neuromuscular disorders
Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy - cause
Develops 2ary to perinatal fetal hypoxia due to placenta problems +- birth –> occurs in 6/1000 live births
Causes fetal distress –> decreased fetal movements, meconium staining, fetal acidosis leading to CNS depression +- permenant damage
Neurological injuries from Physical birth trauma
Facial nerve palsy - pressure from maternal pelvis or forceps
Erb’s (C5/6) or Klumpke’s (C8T1) brachial plexus palsies
Fractures of clavicle, femur or humerus
Caput, cephalhaematoma or subaponeurotic haemorrhage
Intracranial haemorrhage - subdural, subarachnoid or parenchymal
Fits/epilepsy in neonates
Subtle seizures can be common – hard to identify and poorly localized - grand mal –> treat with clonazepam if persistent
Any number of causes
Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy - severity
Mild - irritable for 1-2days but not further problems
Moderate - abnormalities last for days to wks with risk of fits and 1/4 chance of neurodevelopmental problems
Severe - unconscious, poor resp effort, severe fits – always have some long term deficits - can also have liver/renal failure, DIC, NEC and pulmonary HTN
Inherited neuromuscular disorders (MMMHI)
Myasthenia Myopathies Myotonic dystrophy Hypotonias IEM (inborn errors of metabolism)
Neonatal hypoglycaemia
BM lower than 2.6mmol/L – if severe, persistent and symptomatic it will lead to CNS damage
Symptoms: lethargy, poor feeding, jittery, fits and comas, bradycardia, hypotension
Causes of neonatal hypoglycaemia
Poor stores or increased demand - IUGR, postmature, sepsis, HIE, Polycythaemia, IEM
Hyperinsulinaemia - Diabetic mother, rare syndromes, abnormalities of insulin stimulation and release
Management of Neonatal diabetes
Glucose stick measurement – with lab to confirm
Early feeds – if glucose <2mmol/L give 10% glucose IV bolus
If persistent exclude rarer causes
Bilirubin metabolism
80% from Hb breakdown which is conjugated by the liver and secreted as bile – some of which is then reabsorbed
In blood 90% unconjugated bound to albumin & 10% conjugated