Neonatology Comprehensive Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering neonatology topics including newborn exams, complications of prematurity, congenital disorders, and neonatal emergencies.

Perinatal mortality rate

The number of stillbirths plus deaths within the first week after birth per $1000$ live births and stillbirths.

Neonatal mortality rate

Deaths of live-born infants within the first $4$ weeks after birth per $1000$ live births.

Stillbirth

An infant born with no signs of life at $\text{24}$ weeks of pregnancy or more.

Anterior Fontanelle

A soft spot on a newborn's head that typically closes between $9$ and $18$ months of age.

Posterior Fontanelle

A soft spot on a newborn's head that typically closes between birth and $2$ months of age.

Caput succedaneum

A subcutaneous fluid collection present at birth over the presenting part of the scalp that crosses suture lines and resolves in a few days.

Cephalohematoma

A subperiosteal blood collection that does not cross suture lines, appearing a few hours after birth and resolving within weeks.

Ophthalmia neonatorum

Red eyes with discharge in the first $48$ hours of life, potentially due to gonococcal infection requiring immediate treatment.

Red reflex

An eye examination finding used to screen for congenital cataracts; an absent reflex requires an ophthalmology consultation.

Epstein's pearls

Self-resolving cysts located on the palate or gum of a newborn.

Choanal atresia

Failure of the Bucco nasal membrane breakdown in early fetal life, causing respiratory distress and cyanosis that improves when the baby cries.

CHARGE syndrome

A group of malformations including Coloboma, Heart defect, Atresia of nasal choanae, Retardation of growth/development, Genital abnormalities, and Ear deformity.

Umbilical cord composition

Normally contains $2$ arteries and $1$ vein; a single artery and vein may be associated with congenital renal anomalies.

Meconium passage

Normally passed by $95\text{\%}$ of healthy term babies within the first $24$ to $48$ hours of life.

Physiological weight loss

A loss of up to $10\text{\%}$ of birth weight in the first $3$ to $5$ days of life, usually regained by $10$ days.

Milia

White papules on the nose and cheeks due to sebaceous gland obstruction that resolve spontaneously.

Erythema Toxicum Neonatorum

A common pustular rash with an erythematous base containing eosinophils, appearing at $2$ to $3$ days of age and disappearing within days.

Mongolian spots

Blue or gray macular ill-defined discoloration at the lumbosacral area, common in black infants and usually fading over years.

Salmon patch (Nevus simplex)

Pink vascular macules consisting of distended dermal capillaries, often found on the forehead (angel's kiss) or nape of neck (stork bite).

Port-wine stain (Naevus flammeus)

A vascular malformation present from birth that grows with the infant and may be associated with Sturge-Weber syndrome.

Strawberry naevus (Infantile haemangioma)

A vascular lesion appearing in the first month of life that increases in size until $3$ to $15$ months before regressing.

Guthrie test

A newborn blood spot screening performed on day $5$ to identify disorders like congenital hypothyroidism, cystic fibrosis, and phenylketonuria.

APGAR scoring system

A method to evaluate newborns at $1$ and $5$ minutes based on Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration.

Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)

Progressive respiratory distress in preterm infants caused by surfactant deficiency, characterized by a 'ground glass appearance' on X-ray.

Surfactant

A lipoprotein synthesized by type $2$ pneumocytes that reduces surface tension in alveoli and improves lung compliance.

Apnoea of prematurity

Cessation of breathing for more than $20$ seconds or a shorter period if associated with bradycardia or cyanosis, treated with caffeine citrate.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)

A syndrome of acute intestinal necrosis usually affecting preterm infants, characterized by bilious vomiting, abdominal distension, and intramural air (pneumatosis intestinalis) on X-ray.

Hypothermia definition

A core body temperature below $35^{\text{o}}C$, which increases energy consumption and risk of hypoxia and hypoglycemia.

Post-maturity

A baby born at or after $42$ weeks of gestation, characterized by long nails, dry wrinkled skin, and risk of meconium aspiration syndrome.

Large for Gestational Age (LGA)

A birth weight above the $90^{\text{th}}$ centile for gestational age.

Symmetrical IUGR

Intrauterine growth restriction where weight, length, and OFC are all below the $10^{\text{th}}$ centile, usually having an early onset in the first trimester.

Asymmetrical IUGR

Intrauterine growth restriction where weight is more affected and the head is spared, usually due to placental insufficiency in the third trimester.

TORCH infections

Congenital infections including Toxoplasmosis, Other (Syphilis, HIV, etc.), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes Simplex (HSV).

Blueberry muffin rash

A characteristic petechial rash associated with congenital infections like Rubella or CMV.

Bochdalek hernia

The most common type of congenital diaphragmatic hernia ($85\text{\%}$ to $90\text{\%}$), occurring postero-laterally and usually on the left side.

Subgaleal hematoma

A dangerous blood collection in the subaponeurotic space that can lead to hypovolemic shock and coagulopathy.

Duchenne Erb's Palsy

A brachial plexus injury (C5, C6) resulting in a 'waiter's tip' posture where the arm is adducted, internally rotated, and pronated.

Klumpke's Palsy

A brachial plexus injury (C7, C8, T1) resulting in a 'claw hand' with absent grasp reflex.

Unconjugated Bilirubin

The breakdown product of hemoglobin that is lipid-soluble and can cross the blood-brain barrier to cause kernicterus.

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)

Encephalopathy resulting from perinatal asphyxia, treated with therapeutic hypothermia (cooling to $33\text{--}34^{\text{o}}C$ for $72$ hours) if moderate or severe.

Subtle seizures

The most common type of neonatal seizure, involving eye rolling, lip smacking, or bicycling movements.

Haemorrhagic Disease of Newborn

A bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors II, VII, IX, and X.

Ortolani and Barlow tests

Clinical maneuvers used to screen newborns for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH).

Galeazzi test

A test for DDH showing one knee lower than the other when both hips and knees are flexed.

New Ballard Score

A scoring system used to estimate gestational age based on physical and neuromuscular signs.