Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: The incidence of UTI in neonates varies between 0.1-1% and among febrile infant less than eight weeks of life, the incidence is 5-11%. During the first two months of life, males are more commonly affected possibly because of an increased incidence of structural abnormalities. The non-specific symptoms of UTI in neonates include fever, poor feeding, vomiting, jaundice and poor weight gain. The incidence of urinary tract abnormality in infants with UTI is about 30-55%. Sixty percent of term infants and 80% of preterm ineonates develop jaundice during the first week of life. This study evaluates the frequency of UTI in neonates with jaundice.

Methods: In a descriptive analytical study, urinary tract infection were studied in 100 icteric newborns and compared with 100 nonicteric ones. A questionnaire containing the medical history, clinical findings and the result of urine culture, was completed for each one.

Results: Eleven cases of 100 icteric neonates had UTI. Nonicteric neonates however showed no UTI at all. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p=0.001). Imaging investigations performed for all of the infected infants detected urinary tract abnormalities in three of them (27.27%). The two cases were male newborns that had unilateral vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) G I and the third one was a female newborn wtith VUR and hydronephrosis GIII.

Conclusion: UTI is common in icteric neonates and jaundice is one of the first signs of this infection, hence investigation of UTI in these newborn is important. We suggest that US and VCUG should be performed routinely after initial UTI particularly in male neonates.

Background: Neonatal jaundice, especially breast feeding jaundice is one of the most common causes of neonatal readmission during the first month of life. Breast feeding jaundice may be due to decreased milk intake with dehydration and/or reduced caloric intake.  The aim of this Study was to determine maternal risk factors of breast feeding jaundice in order to prevent it than before.
Methods: This case- control study was performed at Bahrami University Hospital, Tehran, Iran and involved 75 term exclusively breast fed newborns admitted for hyperbilirubinemia, with a weight loss greater than 7%, with one positive lab data as: serum Na&ge 150meq/lit, urine specific gravity> 1012, serum urea&ge 40mgr/dl, without assigned cause for hyperbilirubinemia. They were compared with 75 matched controls with weight loss less than 7%, without dehydration and a known cause of hyperbilirubinemia.
Results: In comparison with control group, in neonates with breast feeding jaundice, inappropriate feeding practice (P<0.033), delayed onset of lactation (P<0.0001), inverted nipple (P<0.001) were significantly higher. In our study, there was no significant difference between two groups in education level of mother, learning breast feeding practice before and after delivery, method of delivery (cesarean or vaginal delivery), primiparity or multiparity and use of supplements (water or glucose water).
Conclusion: This study shows need for special attention and follows up of mothers and neonates at risk for breast feeding jaundice, especially those with inverted nipples or undergraduate for successful breast feeding. On the other hand this study shows encouraging mothers for early lactation especially in the first hour of life decreases the risk for this kind of jaundice.

Background: The relationship between season of birth and human diseases is well known and such a relationship could be mediated by seasonal and environmental effects on early events of extrauterine life Empirical neonatological experience suggests that prevalence and degree of neonatal jaundice might be dependent on seasonal variation, mainly due to the sunshine duration. However, evidence based data on this issue are scarce. Thus, we have analyzed the seasonal effect on the rise of serum bilirubin level during the neonatal period.
Methods: A prospective cohort study was done on a sample of 629 term and healthy  infants born consecutively in Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran, during the years 2008-2009. The cord bilirubin level and then the serum bilirubin level near to 48 hour of age were measured. Seasonal differences in rise of serum bilirubin were studied.
Results: Rise of serum bilirubin in spring was 3.951.4 mg/dl, in summer 3.761.69 mg/dl, in fall 3.511.60 mg/dl and in winter 4.791.99 mg/dl. Serum bilirubin level in cord blood did not appear to be correlated with season of birth. After correction for the possible effect of these variables the relation between season of birth and rise of serum bilirubin remained significant. The rise of serum bilirubin in winter was significantly higher than other season (P<0.0001).
Conclusion: Season acts as an independent etiological factor of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Mean rise of serum bilirubin in winter is higher than other season. This provided information to improve education for nurses in identifying risk factors and the prevention of hyperbilirubinemia readmissions.

Background: Jaundice is the most common cause of neonatal admission within the first month after birth. Therefore, by identifying the causes of jaundice based on the infant’s age at disease onset and age at hospital admission and providing the required training, jaundice can be managed and its associated complications can be prevented. This study was performed to evaluate the causes of neonatal jaundice, based on the infant’s age at disease onset and age at hospital admission.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, out of 3,130 infants with jaundice, referring to Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran, from 2003 to 2015, 2,658 newborns were selected. Causes of jaundice are determined based on hematocrit, direct and indirect bilirubin, Coombs test, reticulocyte count, blood group and Rh of mother and neonate, thyroid tests, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme testing, urinalysis, urine culture, and If necessary, Na, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and other tests depending on the doctor's supervision. After confirming jaundice in infants, based on the physician’s diagnosis and laboratory results, a researcher-made questionnaire including the infant’s characteristics, was completed.

Results: Based on our study, 27.9% of infants had identified as causes of jaundice. Known causes of jaundice were blood group incompatibility (40%), infection (19%), G6PD enzyme deficiency (12%), endocrine disorders (8%), neonatal hypernatremic dehydration (7%), polycythemia (6%), congenital heart disease (CHD) (4%), occult bleeding (3%) and Crigler-Najjar syndrome (2%). The most common time of hospital admission of jaundice was 4-6 days after birth due to blood incompatibilities, occult bleeding, endocrine disorders, hypernatremic dehydration, CHD, polycythemia and G6PD enzyme deficiency. Moreover, the most common time of admission due to infection was after the first week of birth.

Conclusion: The most common age of onset of jaundice was first three days of birth for blood incompatibility, although they were admitted two days later. Therefore, neonatal admission at appropriate time at onset of jaundice and receiving prompt treatments can reduce the probable complications (e.g., kernicterus).