Background: Primary congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in infancy and early childhood. Neonatal screening programs for the detection of CH in the neonatal period are widespread and in most screening programs, blood samples are collected at 5–6 days age. Objective: The objective of the study was to obtain cord blood (CB) samples at birth and the peripheral venous blood sample of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) at 72 h. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was done at a tertiary suburban center and a total of 1470 newborn delivered was enrolled after satisfying the inclusion criteria. Umbilical CB TSH sample was taken at birth and peripheral venous sample for TSH was taken at 72 h. TSH values more than 20 ?IU/mL, in both groups, were taken as an upper limit of normal. Results: Out of 1470 samples collected, among those with umbilical cord sample, 31 (2%) had a value >20 ?IU/mL, while only one baby had a value of TSH >20 ?IU/mL at 72 h of life and was diagnosed as CH. Conclusion: The incidence of CH is 1 out of 1470 neonates. Female gender, maternal age, and lower socioeconomic status of parents have a significant impact on umbilical cord TSH Levels.

The most important consequence for a neonate born through meconium stained liquor (MSL) is meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), and it occurs in 1-3% of live births. 1,2 The passage of meconium by the fetus occurs in 10%-15% of all live deliveries whereas the syndrome of meconium aspiration occurs in 10%-30% of all meconium stained infants and this approximates up to 1-3% of all live born infants. 3 This has been found to be a ABSTRACT Background: Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) was found to be major contributing factor towards perinatal morbidity and mortality. This condition is mainly accompanied with respiratory failure, pulmonary air leaks and pulmonary hypertension in neonates. A conservative approach of obstetrician-paediatrician combination moderates incidence of MAS and its complications. The objective of the study was to determine the incidence, determinants and co-morbidities associated with MAS in both intramural and out born admitted to the NICU and SNICU of a Chandulal Chandrakar memorial hospital located in Bhilai, Chattisgarh, India. Methods: This was a prospective study conducted in Chandulal Chandrakar memorial hospital, Bhilai from 1 st September 2013 to 31 st February 2015, in newborns with history of meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) in both out-born and inborn units. Neonates who met inclusion criteria they were included in the study. The data were recorded in predesigned proforma. The data was analyzed using Chi square test. Level of significance of this data was set at p <0.05. Results: Incidence of MSAF in the inborn and out-born among all children admitted was 52.4% and 47.5% respectively. Out of total 202 subjects of MSAF, those with MAS were 29.7% and of these 75% were inborn and 25% were out-born. Male preponderance was high in the study compared to female babies. Incidence of MAS was significantly more in children of >2.5 kgs (80%) and common in primiparous mothers (60%) with lower segmental caesarian sections. MAS commonly seen in post-term babies (53.33%) than those of term (36.66%) or pre-term (10%) gestation. Fetal distress was the common complication observed in most of the cases (91.1%) and one death related to this was noted. At the end of 1 year there were predominantly more children (40%) who developed respiratory morbidities. Delayed development was seen among 13.3% children and transient tone abnormalities were noted in about 2% of infants. Conclusions: The overall incidence of MAS was found to have been 30% among cases of MSAF, which was relatively higher due to delayed referral. This percentage could have been reduced along with associated comorbidities with appropriate antenatal check-up's and timely referral.

Background: A significant number of population in India are below poverty line. It contributes to the higher incidence of malnutrition especially among children which is 48% according to NFHS-3 (National family Health survey). Blood Pressure tracking studies suggest that hypertension in adulthood often has its origin in childhood. Blood pressure in childhood is the best predictor of hypertension in later life. There have been very few studies on malnutrition and Hypertension association and none in this area. One rationale for screening for hypertension in children and adolescents is that early identification of primary hypertension could lead to interventions to reduce blood pressure during childhood and adolescence, resulting in a reduced risk for cardiovascular events and death in adulthood. Methods: The present cross sectional prospective study was conducted on School going children (5-14 years) belonging to lower socio-economic status attending schools from Bhilai, District Durg Chhattisgarh, India, within 5 km range of Chandulal Chandrakar Memorial Hospital over a period of 12 months from March 2015 to February 2016.The present study took 300 sample size. List of schools was arranged from district education officer (DEO) and required government schools were shortlisted on within 5 km range of hospital. After short history and examination, as per the prerequisite of proforma, the following measurements were taken. For all the statistical analysis MS EXCEL and SPSS 16 (Statistical Package for Social Science) version were used. The information collected was tabulated and the data was analyzed using suitable statistics. Results: 60% of the subjects were belongs to 5-10 years of age and 40% in 10-14 years' age group. Males and females were equal in distributions (50% each), thus there were 150 males and 150 females in the current study. Overall prevalence of malnutrition in our study was 38.6%. The present study found 88 subjects (29.3%) having grade 1 malnutrition and 28 subjects (38.7%) having grade 2 and 0 (0%) with grade 3 and grade 4 malnutrition. There were 2 pre-hypertensives in our study, out of which one was male and one female. When analyzed according to nutritional status, there were 2 hypertensives in malnourished group. Similarly. there was 1 hypertensive in normal nutritional status group. Conclusions: There is a significant prevalence of malnutrition in our society which contributes to a more number of problems than what is presented to practicing paediatricians. The prevalence is higher in children <5 years age group overall which continues through school age and adolescent age group as shown in our study. The focus of attention should be identification of various diseases along with hypertension at the earliest and prevention of malnutrition.

Background: Birth asphyxia is an important cause of static development and neurological handicap in both term and preterm infants. Birth asphyxia is found to be responsible for 28.7% deaths in hospital settings and 20% deaths in rural/tribal areas. Approximately the same number develops serious sequelae which cripples these children both physically and mentally. Children who have suffered moderate encephalopathy had varying rates of infant death and morbidity. Precise determination of the prognosis in the term new born, who sustains a hypoxic ischemic insult is hindered by difficulty in determining the severity of insult.Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal, observational study was conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, CMC Bhilai with close association with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Radio diagnosis and Department of Neurology. All deliveries taking place in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of CMC Bhilai were enrolled for the study. Each enrolled infant underwent a detailed neurologic examination within the first 12 hours after birth. During the period of data collection 180 babies with birth asphyxia were admitted to NICU. Out of which 126 babies had fulfilled the inclusion criteria and completed one year follow up, hence as cases. Babies who lost follow up were not included in study. The neurological examination was performed 14 days after discharge, then at 1 month, 3-month, 6-month, 9 month and 12 months. Long term outcome in this study is defined as outcome at one year of age in terms of morbidity and mortality.Results: The female and male ratio is 0.4:1. Most of the asphyxiated newborn, 81 (64%) were in 2500-3000gm. Among the study population, maximum number of cases 76 (60%) were suffering from HIE-I. Majority of study population, 87 (69%) were born by LSCS. Normal CUS in 93 babies and abnormal in 33 babies; with normal CUS, there were no death in study population and out of 33 abnormal CUS, 12 deaths occurred. Out of the different complications enlisted in the table convulsions (66.7%) is most common followed by Apnea (65.08%). Recurrent infections (45.24%) is the most common complication followed by seizure disorders (22.63%) and failure to thrive (20.63%).Conclusions: Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy is one of the major consequences of perinatal asphyxia. Despite of best care, some babies are likely to develop it.

Background: Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is respiratory distress in a neonates caused by the presence of meconium in the tracheobronchial airways. Despite adequate management, there is a high risk of morbidity in the form of seizures, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, respiratory problems of childhood and mortality. Hence, this study was performed in view of developmental issues concerning young infants and pre-school children as maximum brain growth happens in the first three years of life. Methods: This was a prospective study conducted in Chandulal Chandrakar memorial hospital, Bhilai from 1 st September 2013 to 31 st February 2015, with history of meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) in both out-born and in-born neonates. Neonates after meeting inclusion criteria were included in the study. The data were recorded in predesigned proforma. The data were analyzed using appropriate Chi square test. Level of significance was set at p <0.05. Results: Incidence of MAS was significantly more in children of >2.5 kgs (80%) and common in primiparous mothers (60%) with lower segmental caesarian sections. MAS commonly seen in post -term babies (53.33%) than those of term (36.66%) or pre-term (10%) gestation. Fetal distress was the common complication observed in most of the cases (91.1%) and one death related to this was noted. At the end of 1 year there were predominantly more children (40%) who developed respiratory morbidities. Delayed development was seen among 13.3% children, transient tone abnormalities were noted in about 2% of infants. Conclusions:The findings of the present study suggest that neonates diagnosed with MAS displayed neurodevelopmental delay in13% cases. This study gave an overview of all meconium aspiration cases and the neurodevelopmental outcome in these babies. However further research should be done with large sample size to confirm these findings.