STUDY OF CUTANEOUS LESIONS DURING EARLY NEONATAL PERIOD IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL AND ITS SOCIO-CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Background: The initial month of extra-uterine life is significant and commonly
referred to as the neonatal period as physiological alterations occur as a result of the
transition from uterine liquid environments to external parched environments, and
dermatological conditions can affect newborns during this time. In comparison to
adults, babies' skin is attenuated, has fragile intercellular bonds, and produces less
perspiration and sebaceous gland secretion, making them more susceptible to numerous
skin infections.
Objectives:
1. To assess the overall incidence of cutaneous lesions in the early newborn period.
2. To know the relationship of these lesions to gestational age, consanguinity, and birth
weight.
3. To identify common traditional newborn skin care practices.
Material & Methods:
Study Design: Hospital-based prospective cross-sectional study.
Study Area: The study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics.
Study Period: 1 year.
Study Population: The study subjects comprised all consecutive intrauterine-delivered
newborns during their first 5 days of life.
Sample Size: The study consisted a total of 730 subjects.
Study Tools and Data Collection Procedure: In the present study, newborns were
examined for evidence of Cutaneous lesions from birth till their stay in the hospital
which was about 5 days, and these Cutaneous lesions were categorized into Mongolian
spots, Scaling, Milia, Erythema toxicum, Epstein pearl, Café au lait spots, Sebaceous
hyperplasia, Milaria crystalina, Cutis Marmorata, Sacral dimple, Sacral hypertrichiosis,
Salmon patch, Transient pustular melanosis, Accessory nipple, Oral thrush, Colloidion
babies, Perianal dermatitis, Sucking blister, Cutaneous candidiasis, Acne neonatorum. Results: Out of the 1000 Newborns, 105 babies were born to mothers in the age group
of 15-19yrs, 571 in the age group of 20-24yrs, 267 to mothers in the age group of 25-
29yrs, 52, and 5 babies were born to mothers in the age group of 30-34yrs and ≥35yrs
respectively, of these 730 had cutaneous lesions. The maximum number of babies 417
(57.12%) with cutaneous lesions were born to mothers in the age group of 20-24 years.
Conclusion: As it is well known that children are not just “small adults”, newborn
babies have more delicate skin than adults and are more prone for a variety of
dermatoses. Skin rashes in newborns make the parents anxious. Hence an early
diagnosis becomes essential before a treatment, either medical or a traditional practice,
is instituted in a situation where the majority of lesions are benign and self-resolving.