A Study of Risk Factors for the Development of Respiratory Distress in Newborn in a Tertiary Care Medical College Hospital in Eastern India

Abstract

Background:Respiratory distress is one of the commonest disorder encountered leading to hospital admission in neonates.Clinical presentation of respiratory distress in neonates include 2 or more of the following features- respiratory rate >=60/min, chest retractions, grunting, nasal aring, cyanosis. Early recognition and appropriate specic therapy of neonatal respiratory distress has impressive results. Aims and objectives: This study aimed to record risk factors for respiratory distress in neonates admitted in SNCU and NICU in a tertiary care medical college hospital. Material and Methods: The observational descriptive study included one hundred (100) newborns admitted in NICU and SNCU with clinical features of respiratory distress during 1 year study period in Malda Medical College and Hospital. Results: 68% neonates presented within 24 hrs of age. The occurrence of respiratory distress was high in male babies, 64% compared with female 36%.Several risk factors were associated with neonatal respiratory distress. Teenage pregnancy(44%), maternal anemia(73%), PIH (17%), antenatal fever(5%), APH (4%), GDM(8%), Thyroid disorders(11%) are present in varying degrees in mothers.RDS was the most common etiology, 32% followed by MAS(17%), TTNB(15%), CHD(15%), pneumonia(9%), birth asphyxia (7%), syndromic(2%).8 ELBWand 9 VLBWnewborns were all suffered from RDS.21 neonates born to teenage pregnancy developed RDS. Among preterm babies, RDS was the most common etiology, among term babies, TTNB was the commonest. Conclusion: Respiratory distress is one of the commonest cause of SNCU and NICU admission. RDS is common in preterm babies whereas TTNB is more common in term babies.Male gender, teenage pregnancy, low birth weight, gestational age, antenatal illness like PIH,GDM, thyroid disorders are the risk factors for neonatal respiratory distress.