Indian pediatrics
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Comparative Study
Normal ventricular size and ventriculo-hemispheric ratio in infants upto 6 months of age by cranial ultrasonography.
Fifty cases each of preterm (greater than 34 weeks), full term and one month to six months age (400 total) were subjected to cranial ultrasonography for determination of ventricular size and ventriculohemispheric ratio. Ventricular size steadily increased from 4.64 +/- 1.84 mm in preterm to 10.72 +/- 2.92 mm in six months old infant. Ventriculohemispheric ratio increased from 0.12 +/- 0.052 in preterm to 0.17 +/- 0.056 in three months of age. Then steady level was maintained at 0.17 +/- 0.064 upto six months of age.
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Assessment of newborn baby's temperature by human touch: a potentially useful primary care strategy.
Fifty healthy term neonates delivered at All India Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital were assessed by three pediatricians for skin temperature to the nearest +/- 0.5 degrees C at the three body sites, i.e., mid-forehead, abdomen and dorsum of right foot by touch. The predicted temperatures at different sites were compared with simultaneously recorded temperatures at the same sites with the help of an electronic thermometer having a sensitivity of +/- 0.1 degree C. Rectal temperature was also recorded in all the babies with a rectal thermister to compare the variations between the core and skin temperatures. ⋯ There was good correlation between core temperature and skin temperature at different sites except forehead. It is amazing that even during the month of May, when ambient temperature was maintained between 26-28 degrees C, nearly one fifth of the healthy term babies were under cold stress as evidenced by greater than 2 degrees C difference between the core and peripheral skin temperatures. It is recommended that health professionals and mothers should be explained the importance of evaluating the core and peripheral skin temperature by touch for early identification of babies under cold stress in order to prevent occurrence of life threatening hypothermia.