The Hindu : New Delhi News : Doctors discuss best practices for handling sick newborns

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Doctors discuss best practices for handling sick newborns

Staff Reporter

Medical education event organised by Apollo Hospital

Workshop on “development testing” today
‘Spread of neo-natal infections can have serious effects’

NEW DELHI: Apollo Hospital organised a two-day continuing medical education programme on “Neo-natal intensive care unit survivor: Early identification and intervention” at India Habitat Centre here on Saturday in association with the Delhi branch of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics.

The conference discussed the need for developing appropriate management protocols for neuro-development follow-up of babies discharged from the neo-natal intensive care unit and highlighted current guidelines and best practice principles for management of high risks infants.

This will be followed by a hands-on demonstration workshop on “development testing” on Sunday where the developmental assessment scale for Indian infants will be demonstrated. Dr. Vidya Gupta of Apollo Hospital said: “Newborns particularly are susceptible to certain diseases, much more so than older children and adults. Their new immune systems aren’t adequately developed to fight the bacteria, viruses, and parasites that cause these infections. As a result, when newborns get sick, they may need to spend time in hospital or even the neo-natal intensive care unit to recover. Although it can be frightening to see your baby hospitalised, a hospital stay is often the best way back to good health for a sick newborn.”

Extra monitoring

One in 10 babies born in India needs to spend at least a few days in a neo-natal unit to recover from infection and hence require intravenous antibiotics, need extra monitoring or breathing support.

“Neo-natal infections that aren’t treated promptly or that spread can have serious consequences. Because babies’ bodies and organs are undergoing rapid development, any interruption in that process can lead to complications, including growth, developmental, neurological, cardiac, respiratory, and sensory problems. In some severe cases, neo-natal infections can even be fatal,” said Dr. Nipun Kashyap, Developmental Paediatric at Apollo Hospital.

With their fragile new immune systems, babies aren’t well equipped to deal with infection. Premature or otherwise immune-compromised babies are at an even greater risk of developing a critical disease from a bacterium or virus that might cause a simple illness in an older child. An early diagnosis, swift treatment and close monitoring gives a baby the best chance of overcoming the infection.

This conference brought together an eminent faculty drawn from top medical establishments across Delhi and other parts of the country. It also brought together early intervention rehabilitation professionals on a common platform to share their contribution in the management of these babies to ensure their optimal development potential.

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