An Analysis of Neonatal Risk Factors Associated with the Development of Ophthalmologic Problems at Infancy and Early Childhood: A Study of Premature Infants Born at or Before 32 Weeks of Gestation

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors associated with early childhood caries (ECC).Methods: It was an observational retrospective case-control study. The case group consisted of all patients diagnosed with ECC in the records of an active program of maternal and child care. The control group was composed of an equal number of children, matched for gender and age, who attended the program and did not have ECC. The process of data collection consisted of completing a pre-established schedule to analyse variables related to the mother/caregiver and child.Statisticalanalysis was performed using the chi-squared and odds ratio (OR), with alpha (α) = 0.05.Results: History of caries in the mother (OR=2.61; CI 95%=1.45-4.67) and father (OR=1.72; CI 95%=1.02-2.89) were key determinants in the child being diagnosed with ECC.Conclusions: The risk factors associated with ECC were the following: no oral hygiene acceptance, nocturnal feeding duration of more than 16 months, a daily intake of sugar greater than 4 times a day, a Baume type II maxillary arch, fewer than 3 consultations with the program, and a history of decay in the parents.

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Lack of Identifiable Risk Factors for Kernicterus

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.66.4.502 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 66 (4) ◽

pp. 502-506 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Susan Beckwitt Turkel ◽

Marta E. Guttenberg ◽

Diane Radovich Moynes ◽

Joan E. Hodgman

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Birth Weight ◽

Premature Infants ◽

Serum Bilirubin ◽

Matched Control ◽

Total Serum ◽

Clinical Factors ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Control Study

In recent years kernicterus at autopsy has been observed in sick premature infants in the absence of markedly elevated levels of serum bilirubin. Potentiating factors have been suggested to explain kernicterus in such a setting. In order to establish which factors are associated with increased risk for kernicterus in these small babies, this retrospective matched control study was undertaken. Thirty-two infants with kernicterus at autopsy were matched for gestational age, birth weight, length of survival, and year of birth to 32 control infants without kernicterus. Multiple historical, clinical, and laboratory factors were compared, including therapy, sepsis, hypothermia, asphyxia as reflected by Apgar score, hematocrit, acidosis, hypercarbia, hypoxia, hypoglycemia, and hyperbilirubinemia. No statistically significant differences between the kernicteric and nonkernicteric infants were demonstrated for any of these factors, including peak total serum bilirubin levels. Multivariant analysis also failed to determine a group of factors associated with increased risk for kernicterus. It was not possible to separate those infants with and without kernicterus at autopsy on the basis of the clinical factors evaluated.

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