E Assandri Dávila1, M I Ferreira García, O Bello Pedrosa, D de Leonardis Capelo. 1. Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell, Departamento de Emergencia Pediátrica, Ministerio de Salud Pública, Unidad de Emergencia, Instituto de Pediatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo. Uruguay.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of neonatal admissions through a pediatric emergency department (PED), and to evaluate the characteristics of patients who present vital risk on arrival. METHODS: We performed a descriptive, retrospective review of neonates aged 2-28 days arriving from home who presented to the pediatric emergency department between 01/01/03 and 31/12/03. RESULTS: Of a total of 943 neonatal consultations, 277 (29.3 %) required admission. The most common diseases were respiratory (42.6 %) and fever without source (17 %). Among the 943 patients attended, 42 (4,5 %) showed vital risk, and in this group, 81 % were full term neonates, with a P50 of age of 19 days, and a P50 of weight of 3200 g. Among these, there was a predominance of infectious diseases (74 %), especially respiratory tract infections (50 %). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was identified in 14 of the 42 patients. Thirty-six percent required mechanical ventilation and 71.5 % were transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit. Sixty percent of the critically-ill neonates were admitted in the 3 winter months (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of the neonates arriving from home required admission, and vital risk was more frequent in this age group than in other ages (p < 0.001). This does not correspond to risk related to perinatal pathology, or to nutritional reasons, but to community-acquired infections, particularly those of the respiratory tract, the most frequent cause of which is RSV.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of neonatal admissions through a pediatric emergency department (PED), and to evaluate the characteristics of patients who present vital risk on arrival. METHODS: We performed a descriptive, retrospective review of neonates aged 2-28 days arriving from home who presented to the pediatric emergency department between 01/01/03 and 31/12/03. RESULTS: Of a total of 943 neonatal consultations, 277 (29.3 %) required admission. The most common diseases were respiratory (42.6 %) and fever without source (17 %). Among the 943 patients attended, 42 (4,5 %) showed vital risk, and in this group, 81 % were full term neonates, with a P50 of age of 19 days, and a P50 of weight of 3200 g. Among these, there was a predominance of infectious diseases (74 %), especially respiratory tract infections (50 %). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was identified in 14 of the 42 patients. Thirty-six percent required mechanical ventilation and 71.5 % were transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit. Sixty percent of the critically-ill neonates were admitted in the 3 winter months (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of the neonates arriving from home required admission, and vital risk was more frequent in this age group than in other ages (p < 0.001). This does not correspond to risk related to perinatal pathology, or to nutritional reasons, but to community-acquired infections, particularly those of the respiratory tract, the most frequent cause of which is RSV.