FREQUENCY OF HYPOCALCAEMIA AMONG FULL TERM NEONATES WITH SEVERE BIRTH ASPHYXIA

Although neonates with severe birth asphyxia are known to be at increased risk of early onset hypocalcaemia, the magnitude of problem is not well documented. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of neonatal hypocalcaemia among full term infants with severe birth asphyxia in tertiary care hospital. In this cross sectional study, conducted at Nishtar Hospital and medical university, Multan city, Pakistan. The total Serum Ca concentration of 137 full term infants with 1 min APGAR score of less than 3 or equal to 3, were measured using the O-cresulphthalein Complexon Method. All the study neonates (SEVERE BIRTH ASPHYXIA) were examined and their clinical findings were documented and clinical history taken from their mothers. Overall prevalence of early onset neonatal hypocalcaemia (Total S.Ca <8 mg/dL) among asphyxiated neonates was 21.1% Total S.Ca level of asphyxiated neonates of diabetic mothers was significantly low 21(77.7%) and no of asphyxiated neonates of vit-D deficient mothers having hypocalcaemia was also significant 42(30.7%) and most of the mothers of asphyxiated neonates were belonged to poor socioeconomic status even not having proper balanced diet.