Disorders of the Newborn I
The following topics and principles will be covered:
§ Jaundice: aetiology: physiological, pathological causes, management and treatment principles: hydration, nutrition, phototherapy, exchange transfusion.
§ Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS): clinical signs, pathophysiology, management principles, complications; survival of preterm population.
§ Transient Tachypnoea of the Newborn (TTN): clinical signs, pathophysiology, natural history.
Disorders of the Newborn II
The following topics and principles will be covered:
§ Neonatal Bacterial Sepsis/Pneumonia/Meningitis: immunological considerations, early-onset versus late-onset, causative organisms, clinical signs, complications, principles of empirical antimicrobial therapy.
§ Hypoglycaemia: definition, at-risk groups, selective screening, management.
§ Birth Asphyxia: definition, pathophysiology, at-risk groups, resuscitation and principles of management, basic prognostic indicators.
The Sick Newborn Baby
The main emphasis of this lecture will be on clinical features of diseases of the newborn;
Importance of the timing and the aetiology of diseases
Recognition and common causes of:
§ central cyanosis
§ pallor
§ respiratory distress
§ neonatal seizures
§ jitteriness
§ jaundice
§ lethargy/irritability
§ vomiting/feeding failure
§ temperature instability
§ abdominal distension
§ bleeding pr
§ limb pseudoparalysis
Importance of non-specificity of clinical signs, difficulty in recognition of some signs e.g. convulsions, signs as a variation of the normal e.g. jitteriness, signs of serious pathology e.g. bilious vomiting, jaundice in first 24 hours.