Root causes for late presentation of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia in Egypt

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Abstract
This study aimed to understand the reasons for late presentation of cases of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. We administered a questionnaire to parents of 130 infants with severe jaundice admitted to Cairo University Children's Hospital neonatal intensive care unit at age >/= 6 days over an 18-month period. Although 125 infants [96.2%] were delivered in a health care facility, no discharge physical examination was performed in 99/125 cases [79.2%]. No parent was given instructions about neonatal jaundice and no follow-up appointments were scheduled. Parents of 109 infants sought medical advice prior to hospital readmission; most babies were assessed clinically, but serum bilirubin was measured in only one-quarter of cases [28/109]. Medical advice included placing the infant under a neon lamp at home [87/109 cases], advice to supplement breastfeeding [75/109] and prescribed medications, including vitamins [15/109]. Increasing the availability of inexpensive point-of-care diagnostic instruments and phototherapy units in health care facilities are urgently neededCitation
Iskander, I., Gamaleldin, R. & Kabbani, M. (2012). Root causes for late presentation of severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia in Egypt. EMHJ - Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 18 (8), 882 - 887, 2012 https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/118550