Attention must be paid to treating inflammatory bowel disease among preterm infants, which results in a significant mortality rate and can also impair long-term development, Sanjay Patole, clinical neonatologist, King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, Australia, said.
‘Urgent attention needed’
Delivering the XXV Dr. M.S. Ramakrishnan Memorial Endowment Oration on ‘Necrotising Enterocolitis’ at Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital here on Sunday, he said the gastrointestinal emergency needed to be taken care of immediately, given the progress of the country and growing population.
“Inflammatory bowel disease affecting preterm newborns can cause a significant mortality rate of around 20 per cent to 25 per cent and can also lead to a long-term impact on neurological development,” he said.
Pramod Jog, national president, Indian Academy of Paediatrics, was the chief guest at the inaugural function.
He said that while it was important to ensure quality care at affordable prices, being active, progressive and innovative would definitely motivate the medical community towards effectively addressing key issues in neonatology.
Specialised care
Speaking about the neonatal intensive care unit of the Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital, Mathangi Ramakrishnan, chairperson of the trust, said specialised care and neonatal intensive care units were important for newborn care to reduce the number of deaths of neonates or newborns, which constitutes 70 per cent of the deaths of children under a year.
Condition
can also have a
long-term impact on neurological development
