Background and Aim: The maintenance of normoglycemia in newborns depends upon theadequacy of glycogen stores, maturation of glycogenolytic and gluconeogenic pathways, andintegrated endocrine response. The current study, therefore, proposes to observe the clinical profileof low-birth-weight babies concerning the occurrence of hypoglycemia. Materials and Methods:The neonates with a weight of fewer than 2500 grams were included in the study. A total of 100infants were included in the study. They were divided into two groups with infants withhypoglycemia in one group and infants with normoglycemic in another group. The aseptic conditionwas maintained and with the help of heel prick, the capillary blood was collected. The capillary bloodwas screened with the help of reagent strips. Results: Out of the total 100 neonates, a total of 76neonates were normoglycemic and 24 neonates had hypoglycaemic episodes. Overall 22 episodes ofhypoglycemia were recorded. There was no significant association between birth weight andepisodes of hypoglycemia. The majority of hypoglycaemic infants were male. Conclusion:Hypoglycemia associated with abnormal clinical signs (symptomatic hypoglycemia) has a poor short-and long-term outcome but evidence of risk in the absence of clinical signs (asymptomatichypoglycemia) is inconclusive. Small for gestational age is a significant determinant forhypoglycemia. Hypoglycaemic episodes were significantly noticed in the first 24 hours as comparedto another time interval.
Long term outcome of very low birth weight babies born at Sri Jayawardenepura General Hospital from 1990-1995
