European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON MORBIDITY OF DERMATOLOGICAL MANIFESTATIONS IN NEONATES

*Dr. Lakshmi Charan C. and Dr. Unnikrishnan S. R.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In neonates skin maturation occurs with development of stratum corneum. It becomes fully keratinised in utero between 32 and 34 weeks of gestational age. Hence premature neonates have impaired barrier functions leading to infections. Most skin lesions are benign, transient and require no specific treatment. Blistering disorders and erythroderma are rare which associated with morbidity and mortality require appropriate management. Aims and Objectives: To study the physiological and transient, infectious, iatrogenic, congenital, various pattern of dermatological lesions upto 28 days of life. Materials and Methods: New born was examined within 24 hours of birth for skin lesions. Neonates was examined for development of skin lesions in hospital stay and advised to revisit if they have any cutaneous lesions in 28 days. As lesions occur, their morphology, distribution and progression was noted down. Results: In neonates, transient lesions are frequently seen. Among the lesions, erythroderma toxicum neonatorum shows the highest frequency (n=212) 88.3% followed by mongolian spots(n=210) 87.5%, milia (n=120)50%, miliaria (n=110)45.8%. Physiological skin changes includes physiological jaundice seen in 80% of cases. Conclusion: Our study results indicate physiological transient skin conditions are commoner than pathological skin conditions in newborns within 28 days. It helps to increase the awareness of skin lesions in neonates.

Keywords: Neonates, transient skin lesions, physiological, pathological.