Survey for Congenital Malformations and Disabilities at the Neonatal Departments of the General Organization of Teaching Hospitals and Institutes,HOSSAM EL-SABBAGH, NAGWA HAMDI, MOHAMAD H.S. EL DIN MOHAMAD, ALI EL-GAYAR, WAFAA AMIN, MOHAMAD MATAR, MOHAMAD MOURAD and ABDUL GHANI NASR
Abstract
Congenital malformations (CM) affect about 5% of all infants. They arise during intrauterine life and are thus present at birth, whether they are recognized at that time or not. Causative factors include chromosomal anomalies, multifac-torial etiology, single gene disorders and environmental factors, but no cause can be found for many cases.
Objectives: 1- To determine the prevalence of congenital malformations and disabilities among studied neonates. 2- To establish a protocol of collaboration between the hospitals and the specialized centers in the institutes of the GOTHI for early intervention and rehabilitation of affected neonates.
Patients and Methods: A total of 19 233 deliveries were reported, screening 18702 neonates; from 5 regional neonatal departments. Each neonate included was exposed to full examination, including clinical, genetic and anthropological evaluation. Congenital malformations were classified according to International Classification of Neonates with reported CM, whether major or minor; those who required further interven-tion or rehabilitation were referred to specialized centers or institutes.
Results: The overall incidence rate of congenital malfor-mations in this survey was 16.5/1000 births. Consanguinity was found in 26.29% of cases with congenital malformations. The incidence rate of immediate disabilities recorded at or shortly after birth was 4.92/1000 live births. Consanguineous marriages, older maternal age, prematurity and low birth weight contribute to the occurrence of CM. Anomalies of the musculoskeletal system were the most common (37.3% of cases), followed by face anomalies (20.2%), syndromatic features (20.1%), then skull anomalies (16.9%) and anomalies of the central nervous system (16.6%).
Conclusion: Our incidence is an underestimation since many anomalies can not be diagnosed in the immediate neonatal period. However, CM which were readily identifiable at birth, have an accurate incidence in this study due to the proper reporting guidelines followed.