Screening for retinopathy of prematurity in neonates

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vaso-proliferative disorder of the retina among preterm infants. Neonates born at less than 32 weeks of gestation are at risk of developing ROP. However preterm infants born at 32 weeks or later can also develop severe ROP if they had turbulent NICU course or required prolonged oxygen therapy. Aims of the study were to determine incidence, risk factors of ROP in neonates and to determine the association of birth weight, gestational age and incidence of ROP.Methods: Prospective analytic study done in indoor patients in neonatal intensive care unit at a tertiary care center from June 2015 to May 2016.Results: Overall incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in preterm neonates is 18.4%. Incidence increases with decreasing gestational age. In preterm <28 weeks of gestational age, incidence of ROP is 35%. Incidence also increases with decreasing birth weight. Incidence of ROP in neonates with birth weight less than 1.25kg is 50%. Risk factors include prematurity, oxygen therapy, septicemia, intraventricular hemorrhage, anemia needing blood transfusion. Most patients of ROP have stage-1 disease (76%). The twenty one cases having ROP underwent laser ablative therapy. Earlier detection by screening leads to early intervention and prevention of blindness.Conclusions: The timely retinal screening of high-risk preterm infants is important to prevent the development of advanced ROP. Since ROP may produce serious sequel up to complete blindness, all efforts must be made to prevent the development of advanced ROP through elimination of preterm births, changes in the neonatal care and improvement in detection of threatening ROP markers

Study of ocular manifestations in children of thalassemia

Background:Purpose of current study was to study the ocular manifestations in beta-thalassemia major patients and assess the ocular side-effects of iron chelating agents.Methods: Cross sectional study included 45 β Thalassemia major patients from age group of 6months to 12 years were taken. Full medical history, thorough physical examinations were done to all patients groups, and ophthalmological examination to determine the prevalence of ocular manifestations for all patient groups and to correlate these manifestations or changes with iron chelating agents.Results:In 45 patients (22 males and 23 females) with age ranging between 2 years to 12 years, ocular involvement is seen in 35% in the form of decreased visual acuity 26%, tortuous blood vessels in 4.5%, disc hyperemia in 4.5%, heterochromia in 2.5%, retinal pigment epithelium mottling in2.5% and this involvement were more with older age group.Conclusion:Most of the ocular changes of beta thalassemia are attributed to the course and severity of the disease. Reduction in serum iron and serum Ferritin levels by iron- chelating agents and regular ocular examination to look for side-effects of such agents can aid in preventing or delaying ocular complications

Hypoplasia of left pulmonary artery: A rare congenital heart disease

Unilateral hypoplasia or absence of pulmonary artery is a rare pulmonary vascular anomaly that is usually associated with other cardiacanomalies like Tetralogy of Fallot or cardiac septal defects, but can also occur as an isolated anomaly. We present a case of 6-montholdinfant who presented with recurrent respiratory tract infection. On work up, chest X-ray showed ipsilateral small hemithorax withhyperluscency in the left lung field. Findings were confirmed with 2D echocardiography and pulmonary angiography which weresuggestive of hypoplasia of left pulmonary artery

Knowledge, awareness, and practice of postnatal care among mothers

Objective: The objective was to study the knowledge, awareness, and practices regarding the postnatal care among the mothers.Design and Setting: A pre-structured and pre-tested questionnaire was used to evaluate knowledge and awareness of postnatal carein mothers at a tertiary care center. The questionnaire was given after stabilization between 1 and 5 days of the postnatal period.Materials and Methods: Totally, 200 postnatal mothers (18-35 years) out of 540 mothers who were given antenatal and postnataleducation in our antenatal care center were selected. Study Period: June 2013-September 2013. Results: Knowledge of mothersregarding breastfeeding practices (78%), thermal care (89%), skin and eye care (72%) was good. They have poor knowledge regardingdangers of pre-lacteal feeds (45%), timing of first bath after birth (60%), umbilical cord care (60%), and vaccination (36%). About32% of them are practicing oil instillation into nostrils while 44% of mothers were intended to use gripe water for infantile colic.Conclusion: The study highlights that there is vital need to improve the knowledge and awareness in the society regarding communitybasednewborn care. We should also strive toward helping removing myths and wrong practices, which are rampant in the community

Screening for retinopathy of prematurity in neonates

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vaso-proliferative disorder of the retina among preterm infants. Neonates born at less than 32 weeks of gestation are at risk of developing ROP. However preterm infants born at 32 weeks or later can also develop severe ROP if they had turbulent NICU course or required prolonged oxygen therapy. Aims of the study were to determine incidence, risk factors of ROP in neonates and to determine the association of birth weight, gestational age and incidence of ROP.Methods: Prospective analytic study done in indoor patients in neonatal intensive care unit at a tertiary care center from June 2015 to May 2016.Results: Overall incidence of retinopathy of prematurity in preterm neonates is 18.4%. Incidence increases with decreasing gestational age. In preterm &lt;28 weeks of gestational age, incidence of ROP is 35%. Incidence also increases with decreasing birth weight. Incidence of ROP in neonates with birth weight less than 1.25kg is 50%. Risk factors include prematurity, oxygen therapy, septicemia, intraventricular hemorrhage, anemia needing blood transfusion. Most patients of ROP have stage-1 disease (76%). The twenty one cases having ROP underwent laser ablative therapy. Earlier detection by screening leads to early intervention and prevention of blindness.Conclusions: The timely retinal screening of high-risk preterm infants is important to prevent the development of advanced ROP. Since ROP may produce serious sequel up to complete blindness, all efforts must be made to prevent the development of advanced ROP through elimination of preterm births, changes in the neonatal care and improvement in detection of threatening ROP markers