Pattern of admissions to neonatal unit

Abstract

Objective: To document the number, disease pattern and outcome of patients admitted to neonatal unit.

Design: Descriptive study.

Place and duration of study: The study was conducted in the Neonatal Unit of National Institute of Child Health, Karachi, Pakistan from 1st January 2001 to 31st December 2001.

Patients and methods: The data of all the admitted neonates was analyzed for age and weight at the time of admission, sex, duration of stay, cause of admission and outcome.

Results: A total of 1984 neonates were admitted during study period. Among them 62.1% were males, 17.54% were admitted within 6 hours of their life, and 51.36% within 72 hours of birth. The low birth weight accounted for 55.4% admissions. Neonatal infection was the major cause of admission (45.21%) comprising 30.64% cases of septicemia, 9.82% of pneumonia and 4.73% of meningitis. Other causes of admission were birth asphyxia (18.85%), neonatal jaundice (13.15%), pre-term (6.87%), meconium aspiration syndrome (3.67%), hemorrhagic disease of newborn (2.21%), diarrhea (2.11%) and hyaline membrane disease (1.05%). 48.53% were discharged with satisfactory condition, 25.5% died and 25.85% left against medical advice (LAMA) and or discharged on request (DoR).

Conclusion: Low birth weight (LBW), infections and birth asphyxia were the major causes of neonatal admission.