Preterm babies are more prone to develop disorders and so require immediate intensive care. In the conventional neonatal intensive care, the baby is kept in the incubator, separated from the mother. Some actions have been taken in order to make this mother–child separation less traumatic. One of these actions is the Kangaroo mother care (KMC) characterized by skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her newborn. The objective of this study was to compare the mood variation of mothers enrolled in the KMC program to those in the conventional incubator care. In one general hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 90 mothers were evaluated before and after contact with the baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The participants were divided into three groups: 30 mothers of term newborns (TG), 30 mothers of preterm infants included in KMC program (PGK) and 30 preterms with incubator placement (PGI). The Brazilian version of the Visual Analogue Mood Scale (VAMS) was used for the assessment before and after the infant’s visit. Results showed that TG mothers reported fewer occurrences of depressive states than PGK and PGI mothers. A significant mood variation was observed for PGK and PGI after the infant’s visit. PGK mothers reported feeling calmer, stronger, well-coordinated, energetic, contented, tranquil, quick-witted, relaxed, proficient, happy, friendly and clear-headed. The only variation showed by PGI mothers was an increase in feeling clumsy. This study shows a positive effect of the KMC on the mood variation of preterm mothers and points to the need of a more humane experience during the incubator care.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Associated with Visceral Leishmaniasis
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), is a systemic disease caused by the dissemination of protozoan parasite Leishmania throughout the reticuloendothelial system. It may mimic or lead to several types of hematological disorders including hemophagocytosis. Infection associated hemophagocytic syndrome implicating Leishmania is very rare and often difficult to diagnose. Here, we describe a child with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) associated with VL.

Role of Steroids on the Clinical Course and Outcome of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome A Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is one of the major causes of severe respiratory distress in the newborn and there is no uniform protocol of management after the development of MAS. Objective: The objective of the study was to determine whether systemic and inhalational steroid therapy can alter the clinical course of MAS and improve the outcome without causing any serious adverse effects. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted in three groups of MAS over a period of 1 year. Group A (n = 33) served as controls, Group B (n = 34) received systemic methyl prednisolone and Group C (n = 32) received nebulized budesonide both for a period of 7 days starting after 24 h of age. Details of clinical progress were noted during the hospital stay. Follow up for a minimum period of 3 months was done in all. Data were analysed by SPSS 10 software. Student’s t and ANOVA were used to assess statistical significance. Results: Patient profile was similar in all the three groups. Period of oxygen dependency and duration of hospital stay was significantly less in the steroid treated groups. Similarly full enteral feeding and radiological clearance of chest could be achieved earlier in groups B and C. No difference between the steroid treated groups could be appreciated by Student’s Newman Kuel (SNK) test. Development of sepsis was similar in all the groups and no serious adverse effects were noted in steroid treated groups. Conclusion: Steroids are effective in the management of MAS and route of administration does not have a bearing on the efficacy.

Factors Influencing the Academic Performance of School Children with Epilepsy
The academic performance and intelligence quotient (IQ) of 50 children with epilepsy aged between 5 and 14 years, attending normal primary schools in Enugu, were compared with those of their non-epileptic classmates. The academic performance was assessed using the overall scores achieved in terminal examinations in the 2001–2002 academic year. IQ was assessed using the Draw-A-person Test. The influences of school absence rate, Rutter behavioural scores, socio-economic status and seizure-related variables on academic performance were then determined. Twenty-six percent of the children with epilepsy had a low overall score, and therefore poor academic performance, compared with 16% of the controls (p = 0.35). The mean IQ of the children with epilepsy was significantly lower than that of the controls (p = 0.02). The mean school absence rate for the children with epilepsy was significantly higher than that of the controls (p = 0.001). The mean Rutter score of the children with epilepsy was significantly higher than that for the controls (p < 0.001). On multiple linear regression analysis, only IQ (p = 0.01) and seizure type (p = 0.03) had significant predictive effects as risk factors for low overall scores and poor academic performance. It is concluded that the academic performance of epileptic children is influenced by their IQ and type of seizures rather than by other seizure variables or socio-demographic characteristics.

Relationship between Trachoma and Chronic and Acute Malnutrition in Children in Rural Ethiopia
Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness in the world. Areas where it is most prevalent also have some of the highest rates of childhood malnutrition. We examined the relationship between both acute and chronic malnutrition and clinical trachoma. We also explored whether malnutrition alters the clinical manifestations of the disease. Children with chronic malnutrition, but not acute malnutrition, were more likely to have clinical trachoma. Stunted children are 1.96 times more likely to have clinical trachoma than nonstunted children (95% CI: 1.12–3.43), even after controlling for age, gender and infection status of other household members. Host factors including malnutrition may play a role in determining disease manifestations.

The Pattern and Early Diagnostic Value of Doppler Ultrasound for Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy
This article investigates the value of early diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of Doppler ultrasound for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). Study population included 40 term neonates with HIE and 30 healthy controls. Color Doppler ultrasound was performed at the bedside within 24 h after birth. The transducer was placed on the temporal fontanelle to detect the hemodynamic parameters of bilateral middle cerebral arteries. The results showed that infants with HIE had significant cerebral hemodynamic disturbance. The cerebral blood flow velocity decreased or increased markedly as resistive index (RI) decreased or increased markedly, which usually suggested the diagnosis of HIE, RI < 0.50 or RI > 0.90 usually occurred in severe patients, while RI > 1.0 would be associated with later brain death. So we believe that using Pulsed Doppler ultrasound to monitor the changes of cerebral hemodynamics can be used for the early diagnosis of HIE and help us to distinguish the grades of HIE.

Comprehensive baby name guides, adoption index, and step
Comprehensive baby name guides, adoption index, and step by pregnancy information from babyZone. Find tips, tools, and advice for each stage of your child’s … Lilypie : Free baby days […]

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 29th, 2007 at 2:32 am and is filed under Vitamins. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.