Dermatoses Profile and Its Correlation with Maternal Factors Admitted Among Neonates Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital in Coastal South India

Abstract

Introduction: Neonatal skin changes are frequent and are an important cause of parental distress seeking paediatric consultation. Majority of neonatal cutaneous lesions are transitory and self-limited. However, pathological lesions require treatment. It is of paramount importance to identify and diagnose them correctly to avoid unwarranted therapeutic interventions.
Aims: To study the frequency of physiological and pathological skin findings in neonates and determine their association with socio demographic factors and maternal co morbid conditions and obstetric profile.
Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among 288 neonates, admitted in 3 tertiary care centres, for a period of 6 months. Neonates were examined for dermatoses and recorded in a preset proforma. The results were
expressed as mean, standard deviation, and percentage. The association between the skin findings and several variables was tested using Chi-square test And Z test.
Results: The incidence of dermatoses was 80.9% (n=233) of which 81.5% (n= 190) were physiological and 6.9% (n=16) were pathological. Most common skin finding was Mongolian spots (47.6%). Bacterial infection (4.9%) was the common pathological lesion. Mongolian spots among infants born to mothers who underwent cesarean section, lanugo hair among low birth weight babies (P<0.05) and physiological desquamation in post term babies were common. Incidence of dermatoses among mothers above 25 years and in primigravida with normal course of pregnancy was high.
Conclusions: Physiological skin lesions in neonates are common. Factors like maternal age and comorbid illness were not significantly associated with cutaneous lesions. A detailed knowledge on the neonatal skin by dermatologists and pediatricians is essential for the diagnosis and management of these transitory skin conditions as they are a cause of major concern among parents.