[Diagnostic and evolutionary aspects of hemorrhagic syndromes of the newborn in Dakar].

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhage is a common and serious symptom in the neonatal period. In developing countries, means of exploration are insufficient. Our purpose was to describe the epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and evolutionary aspects of hemorrhagic syndromes of the newborn in Dakar, Senegal, to identify the risk factors and diseases associated with them in order to propose recommendations for their management.

METHODS

We conducted a case-control study of 82 newborns with 41 cases of hemorrhagic syndromes and 41 controls. We first described the epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and evolutionary parameters of the group that submitted a hemorrhagic syndrome and compared their diagnostic data with those of the control group to highlight the risk factors associated with the occurrence of hemorrhagic syndrome.

RESULTS

The prevalence of hemorrhagic syndrome among hospitalized newborns was 9.2%, the sex-ratio (M/F) was 1.9. Preterm infants accounted for 26.8%. We often found early onset of bleeding (46.4% before 72h of life). Visceral bleeding was predominant, especially respiratory (34.1%), digestive (31.7%), and cerebral (17%), followed by cutaneous hemorrhages (26.8%). The risk factors identified were respiratory distress, shock, and a stained amniotic fluid. The concomitant diagnoses were dominated by neonatal infection (58.5%), hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (21.9%), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (19.5%). The mortality rate was high (34.1%), most often associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation.

CONCLUSION

This study reveals the high mortality due to hemorrhagic syndromes caused by these three diseases for which prevention must be stressed.