Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in neonates is considered a rarity due to vertical transmission and most of the affected babies are asymptomatic. Here, we describe two severe cases of very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm babies in sick newborn care unit (SNCU) due to horizontal transmission. Case 1 describes a VLBW preterm baby (29 weeks) weighing 1300 g who was undergoing care in SNCU. He developed classical symptoms of cold in the form of nasal congestion with mild rhinorrhea, fever, and cough followed by severe prolonged hypoxia with full recovery. Case 2 describes another VLBW preterm (27.3 weeks) weighing 1175 g who was suffering from severe progressive hypoxia around same time. He was initially responsive to oxygen therapy but succumbed to refractory hypoxia later on. We conclude that severe COVID-19 pulmonary disease can occur in few unfortunate VLBW preterm neonates

Background: Despite advances in perinatal and neonatal care, neonatal mortality is still high in developing countries, like India. Special neonatal care units (SNCUs) have been set up at different levels of health-care delivery system to provide quality newborn care services to meet this challenge. Aim: This study was undertaken to study morbidity and mortality pattern of neonates admitted at SNCU. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in a newly started SNCU in the Western suburbs of Mumbai, India. The study included all babies admitted between 0 and 28 days of life over a period of 1 year. The babies were categorized based on gestational age and birth weight. Results: A total of 531 babies were admitted during the study period, including 125 outborn babies. About 25% of babies were preterm (<37 weeks), and 40% of babies were low birth weight (LBW) including 4.14% very LBW and 2.44% extremely LBW babies. Neonatal jaundice, respiratory distress, prematurity, LBW, suspected sepsis, and perinatal depression were common indications for admission. Only 11 (2.07%) babies required antibiotics. The overall mortality rate was 1.55%, with birth asphyxia being the leading cause of death. Conclusion: Results of this study showed that simple measures for the prevention of morbidity and mortality related to prematurity and sepsis may avoid excessive use of antibiotics and reduce overall morbidity and mortality of neonates admitted in SNCU/neonatal intensive care units.

Chikungunya is an arboviral disease transmitted by Aedes species mosquito. As per systematic reviews, vertical transmission is seen in upto 50 % cases. Congenital infection in neonates present with predominant central nervous system involvement, characteristic cutaneous hyperpigmentation and thrombocytopenia. We are presenting here two cases. First baby presented with fever and hyperpigmentation while other neonate had encephalopathy followed by facial hyperpigmentation. Maternal chikungunya IgM antibody titres were positive and baby’s blood RT-PCR for chikungunya virus were also positive in both the cases .A strong clinical suspicion should be kept when a newborn presents with features of encephalopathy, perioral hyperpigmentation, especially in endemic areas, where mother is suffering from viral fever with or without rash in the peripartum period.

Pfeiffer syndrome is a rare genetic disorder in western population .This condition is very rare in the Asian population. This syndrome was first described by Rudolf Pfeiffer in 1964. We are presenting here is a case of newborn with pfeiffer syndrome type II demonstrating a cloverleaf skull with craniosynostosis, hypertelorism, bilateral proptosis, low set ears, syndactyly, broad thumb broad great toe, elbow synostosis.

Background: Despite advances in perinatal and neonatal care, neonatal mortality is still high in developing countries, like India. Special neonatal care units (SNCUs) have been set up at different levels of health-care delivery system to provide quality newborn care services to meet this challenge. Aim: This study was undertaken to study morbidity and mortality pattern of neonates admitted at SNCU. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in a newly started SNCU in the Western suburbs of Mumbai, India. The study included all babies admitted between 0 and 28 days of life over a period of 1 year. The babies were categorized based on gestational age and birth weight. Results: A total of 531 babies were admitted during the study period, including 125 outborn babies. About 25% of babies were preterm (<37 weeks), and 40% of babies were low birth weight (LBW) including 4.14% very LBW and 2.44% extremely LBW babies. Neonatal jaundice, respiratory distress, prematurity, LBW, suspected sepsis, and perinatal depression were common indications for admission. Only 11 (2.07%) babies required antibiotics. The overall mortality rate was 1.55%, with birth asphyxia being the leading cause of death. Conclusion: Results of this study showed that simple measures for the prevention of morbidity and mortality related to prematurity and sepsis may avoid excessive use of antibiotics and reduce overall morbidity and mortality of neonates admitted in SNCU/neonatal intensive care units.