Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in neonates poses long-term feeding difficulties and abnormalities of swallowing, the sequel of which is growth impairment. Such infants are also at risk of impaired selffeeding in the grown-up stage along with other motor and tone abnormalities leading to malnutrition and multiple aspiration pneumonia episodes. The lack of evidence-based and pragmatic feeding strategies in such neonates is because of varied unrecognized symptoms and lacking validated diagnostic approaches. This article approaches evidence related to the pathophysiologic basis of feeding difficulties in neonates with HIE as well as standardizing measures and techniques to improve the feeding abilities of such babies and, in turn, their long-term development. The present review provides a scaffold for putting importance on this less taken care issue of feeding problems and emphasizes that more objective and evidence-based studies are required to be added to the literature for early interventions and management of this issue so that caregivers and neonatologists are not misguided by crude subjective opinions.
VACTERL Association is complex, non-random sporadic association of various birth defects. It includes vertebral, anal anomalies, cardiovascular, tracheoesophageal, renal anomalies, radial anomalies and limb abnormalities.It is first described in 1970s. Full spectrum association is a very rare entity.VACTERL is considered to be present if any three of the above-mentioned abnormalities are present. Along with these features, patients might present with other external anomalies like lung lobation defects, external ear anomalies etc. However, the full spectrum of VACTERL association is very rare diagnosis mainly by clinical approach. Multidisciplinary approach and treatment of surgically correctable anomalies provide a better outcome for this association in new born period. Tracheoesophageal fistula is associated in more than 70 percent of the cases. Limb defects are also present in 70 percent of the cases. Anal atresia is present in 55 percent of the cases. VACTERL Shows phenotypic overlap with various conditions like Goldenhar syndrome, Fanconi anaemia, CHARGE syndrome etc. Here in we are reporting a case of VACTERL with presence of cardiovascular abnormality, Tracheoesophageal fistula and limb abnormalities.
At the end of 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was first detected in Wuhan. In March 2020, COVID-19 became a global pandemic. Saudi Arabia registered the first case of COVID-19 on March 2, 2020. COVID-19 can affect any organ in the body. It affects the respiratory system predominantly. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is used to diagnose COVID-19, and the preferred swab is the nasopharyngeal swab. The shedding of the virus continues for about 20 days after the onset of the symptoms. There may be prolonged shedding in a few cases without any symptoms. Viral cultures are used for the confirmation of the shedding. Although the preferred mode of diagnosis is RT-PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay helps in the diagnosis of antibodies. Here, we report a rare case of prolonged viral shedding for more than 14 weeks. The patient had a prolonged COVID-19 infection, which caused immunosuppression, following which the patient presented with an infection.
Holt Oram syndrome is a rare genetically inherited disorder characterized by various skeletal abnormalities of the upper limb with an underlying structural heart defect. Family history and conduction defects may or may not be there. The diagnosis is often clinical; if the criteria are not fulfilled, then genetic studies may be required. This syndrome can also occur with complex congenital heart defects, heart blocks, and arrhythmias. The correlation between the severity of cardiac and skeletal manifestations was not studied, and in severe conditions and acute presentation, the patient may have atrial, supraventricular, and ventricular fibrillation. The association of radius with hand deformity and the cardiac defect is well reported, but this disease's involvement of the humerus and Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is rare. Here, we are reporting a case of Holt Oram syndrome in a five-year male child with unusual skeletal hypoplastic humerus who presented with breathlessness, palpitations, and supraventricular tachycardia and suffered a total of three episodes which were managed with adenosine and cardioversion successfully. The involvement of the humerus, along with symmetrical bilateral radial defect with Atrial septal defect (ASD) and Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), is a unique feature of Holt Oram syndrome seen in our case.
Neonatal hypernatremic dehydration (NHD) is a common complication in breastfed neonates which if not recognized early can lead to life-threatening complications. Only a few cases of NHD leading to peripheral gangrene have been reported in the literature. We report a case of a 14-day-old neonate with complaints of dyspnoea, poor oral intake, and gangrenous changes in the left leg. There was a 28% weight loss since birth due to inadequate feeding. The baby was diagnosed with severe hypernatremic dehydration with Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) stage 4 acute kidney injury requiring peritoneal dialysis. Ultrasonography of the left lower extremity revealed a distal femoral artery thrombus leading to dry gangrene requiring amputation. There were neurological signs like altered sensorium and drug-resistant seizures which were suspicious for intracranial pathology like cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. Prevention and early diagnosis of NHD are essential to prevent the occurrences of such grave complications. It can be easily achieved by improving the vigilance regarding the adequacy of feeds subjectively by the mother if the baby is at home and objectively by physicians in the hospital setting. These simple interventions have the potential to prevent readmissions due to not only simple feeding complications but grave complications as mentioned above as well and save precious lives.
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