Bartter syndrome is a congenital functional renal anomaly, characterized by hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis with renal salt wasting with normal blood pressure. It presents in infancy and early childhood age group with failure to thrive and episodes of polyuria and dehydration.

Introduction: To evaluate variations in platelet count and platelet indices-mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) in neonatal sepsis. Methodology: This study was conducted over a period of one year in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Mata Chanan Devi Hospital, New Delhi. Neonates with confirmed as well as probable sepsis were included in the study. Platelet count, MPV and PDW were monitored three times: at diagnosis (1 st day), 3 rd day and 7 th day of sepsis. Results: Among 100 cases, culture proven sepsis was present in17 neonates. Fungal sepsis occurred in 2 cases (11.76%), 7 neonates (41.18%) had gram positive sepsis and 8 neonates (47.06%) had gram negative sepsis. Thrombocytopenia was present in 38% and thrombocytosis in 6% cases. Mild thrombocytopenia was noted in 55.26%, moderate thrombocytopenia in 31.58% and severe thrombocytopenia in 13.16% babies. Culture positive neonates had high prevalence of thrombocytopenia. High mortality was found in moderate to severe thrombocytopenic neonates, and these babies also had high MPV and high PDW. Conclusions: Thrombocytopenia was more common than thrombocytosis in neonatal sepsis. Prevalence of thrombocytopenia was significantly high in culture proven sepsis (64.7%). There was statistically significant difference in mean platelet count on day 1, day 3 and day 7 of sepsis among culture positive and culture negative neonatal sepsis. Neonates with culture proven sepsis had high MPV on day 7 and high PDW on day 1 of sepsis. There was high MPV and high PDW in neonates who developed thrombocytopenia and also in expired babies. Platelet count and platelet indices can be used as early diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for neonatal sepsis.

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.

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.