Prematurity (or Pre-term) describes infants delivered before 37 weeks of gestation. Pre-term birth is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years globally, associated with early and long term complications. The Word Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 13.4 million infants were born prematurely in 2020 across the world with rates of
The Newborn and Infant Physical Examination (NIPE) or Examination of the Newborn (EON) is performed on every newborn baby within the first 72 hours of life by doctors and midwives. It is a screening tool used to identify congenital anomalies in babies as quickly as possible and make the appropriate referrals if needed. Whilst this
Neonatal hypoglycaemia is defined as blood glucose levels < 2.6mmol/L. It’s a common problem in the first days of life, affecting up to 15% of neonates. It can be due to a variety of reasons, stemming from factors such as maternal diabetes, preterm birth, congenital hyperinsulinism or transient hypoglycaemia of the newborn. Recognising the condition
This may seem like a very subspecialist topic but as part of a paeds job as a junior trainee or FY2 you may be expected to cover a neonatal unit and this may involve looking after ventilated babies. In order to understand neonatal ventilation you have to understand the underlying physiology which is what this article is for!
Neonatal ventilation is a complex topic but one you may need to get your head around as an FY2 if you cover a NICU as part of your paeds rotation. You should read our article about neonatal respiratory physiology before reading this to help your understanding!
A “floppy” baby may present in many different ways and there is a long list of differentials for a baby with reduced tone. This article will you refine your diagnostic skills when it comes to assessing the floppy baby.
Necrotising enterocolitis is one of the most common neonatal surgical emergencies and is a potentially life-threatening condition. This article talks through the risks for developing NEC and how to spot early signs and manage appropriately
“Bilious vomiting” is a common problem you will be asked to review babies for on the postnatal ward or in the neonatal unit. True bilious vomiting can be an emergency and this article will help you to recognise this and know how to act.
Jaundice in the newborn is a relatively common presentation, typically seen on postnatal wards and presenting to paediatric units in the first couple of weeks of life. It is often managed in concert with midwifery teams both in hospital and in the community, and generally doesn’t present to General Practice, though it is an important
As an FY1 it is likely that you will manage paediatric patients during their admission, often in other specialties like general surgery. Having a few paediatric skills under your belt will help you feel more confident admitting them & ensuring you appropriately raise any safeguarding issues and safety net them at discharge with appropriate support.
