Dermatoses in Indian neonates: A clinical study

Abstract

Background Neonatal dermatology, by definition, encompasses the spectrum of cutaneous disorders that arise during the first 4 weeks of life. A host of aberrations varying from physiological and transient to grossly pathological are observed in the skin of a neonate. Objective The aim of this work was to study the prevalence of dermatoses in neonates and to establish the correlation between various neonatal factors, maternal factors, and the occurrence of dermatoses. Patients and methods A total of 200 randomly selected live-born neonates delivered and admitted to the postpartum ward, neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, and neonates attending the Dermatology Outpatient Department were included in this study. A detailed assessment of history was performed and a detailed dermatological examination of each of the neonates was carried out. Laboratory procedures were performed as required. Results The most prevalent findings were miniature puberty (71%), Mongolian spot (64.5%), lanugo hair (63%), sebaceous gland hyperplasia (62%), erythema toxicum neonatorum (38%), salmon patch (35%), physiological scaling of the newborn (30.5%), milia (27%), miliaria (18.5%), Epstein's pearls (17.5%), and iatrogenic bruises (17.5%). Conclusion A thorough knowledge of the skin changes, physiological as well as pathological, in neonates is of prime importance for the dermatologist as well as pediatrician.