A CLINICO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF SKIN MANIFESTATIONS OF NEONATES IN COMPARISION TO OTHER INDIAN STUDIES.

Dr. Sushma Chowdary Kosaraju*, Dr. Dilruba Begum M S, Dr. Subba Rao R

ABSTRACT

Background: The first four weeks of extra-uterine life is regarded as the neonatal period. Clinico-epidemiological data is limited for neonatal dermatosis in India. Aim: To ascertain the incidence of various cutaneous manifestations in the neonates delivered in our hospital and to determine the influence of various maternal and neonatal factors over these dermatoses. Methods: 100 newborns with cutaneous lesions were evaluated. The sex, birth weight, gestational age and age at the time of examination were recorded. In addition, age and parity of mother, mode of delivery were noted. Results: Neonatal dermatoses in the order of frequency in our study were Mongolian spots (71%), physiological scaling of the newborn(56%), milia (24%), erythema toxicum neonatorum (22%), sebaceous gland hyperplasia (21%), epstein’s pearls (19%), physiological jaundice (9%), miliaria (8%), cradle cap (6%), lanugo hair (2%), vernix caseosa (2%), congenital melanocytic nevus(2%) and one case each of neonatal acne, transient neonatal pustular melanosis and café-au-lait macules. Conclusion: This study reflects the high incidence of cutaneous manifestations in neonates which correlates with previous Indian studies in neonatal dermatosis.

Keywords: Neonatal dermatosis, Mongolian spots.