Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2016 Jun 21:24:152.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2016.24.152.7066. eCollection 2016.

Neonatal respiratory distress in a reference neonatal unit in Cameroon: an analysis of prevalence, predictors, etiologies and outcomes

Joel Noutakdie Tochie  1 , Simeon-Pierre Choukem  2 , Regina Ndasi Langmia  3 , Esther Barla  4 , Paul Koki-Ndombo  5
Affiliations

Neonatal respiratory distress in a reference neonatal unit in Cameroon: an analysis of prevalence, predictors, etiologies and outcomes

Joel Noutakdie Tochie et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Introduction: Neonatal respiratory distress (NRD) is a main cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Early detection of its risk factors and early treatment of its etiologies are major challenges. However, few studies in developing countries have provided data needed to tackle it. We aimed to determine the prevalence, predictors, etiologies and outcome of NRD in a tertiary health care centre of Cameroon.

Methods: We analyzed the hospital files of all newborns admitted to the Neonatal unit of Douala General Hospital from 1(st) January 2011 to 28(th) February 2013. NRD was diagnosed based on the presence of one or more of the following signs: an abnormal respiratory rate, expiratory grunting, nasal flaring, chest wall recessions and thoraco-abdominal asynchrony with or without cyanosis, in their files. Socio-demographic and clinical variables of newborns and their mothers were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.

Results: The prevalence of NRD was 47.5% out of the 703 newborns studied. Acute fetal distress, elective caesarean delivery, APGAR score < 7 at the 1(st) minute, prematurity, male gender and macrosomia were independent predictors of NRD. The main etiologies were neonatal infections (31%) and transient tachypnea of the newborn (25%). Its neonatal mortality rate was 24.5%, mainly associated with neonatal sepsis and hyaline membrane disease.

Conclusion: NRD is a frequent emergency and causes high morbidity and mortality. Most of its risk factors and etiologies are preventable. Adequate follow-up of pregnancy and labor for timely intervention may improve the neonatal outcomes.

Keywords: Cameroon; Neonatal respiratory distress; etiologies; outcomes; predictors; prevalence.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Etiologies of neonatal respiratory distress
Figure 2
Figure 2
Kaplan-Meier survival comparison between newborns with NRD and those without
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. Lorotte-Namoumi C, Clamadieu, Jarreau PH. Détresses respiratoires du nouveau-né en dehors des malformations et des maladies génétiques ou constitutionnelles. Encycl Med Chir (Elsevier Paris) Pédiatrie. 2004;4:10–1.
    1. Renolleau S, Costil J. Détresses respiratoires du nouveau-né et de l'enfant. Encycl Med Chir Pneumol. 1998;6:4–10.
    1. Saeed Z, Lutufullah G, Hassan R. Prevalence and Aetiology of Respiratory Distress in newborns. PAFMJ. 2013 Mar;63:1.
    1. Chalacon M, Debillon T, Plantaz D, Ego A. Facteurs de risque détresse respiratoire chez les prématurés modérés (32 a 34 semaines d'aménorrhées) Université Joseph Fourrier; 2012. Thèse.
    1. Lasme E, Amon TD, Akaffou E, Ehua-Amangoua E, Koffi O, Kangah D. Les facteurs de risque des détresses respiratoires néonatales en milieu hospitalier a Abidjan. Ann Pediatr (Paris) 1997;44(9):635–39.

MeSH terms