Physical examination for neonatology

1. NEONATOLOGY

2. History and physical examination
of neonates

3. 1. Neonatal history taking
a. Maternal profile:
 age of the mother,
 occupation,
parity,
blood group and Rh,
 chronic maternal illnesses (diabetes, hypertension, HIV, TB,
renal diseases, asthma, etc),
history of sexually transmitted diseases (symptoms like vaginal
discharge, genital ulcers, or investigations like VDRL, HIV test,
Hepatitis B virus status)

4. b. Current pregnancy:
LNMP (last normal menstrual period),
gestational age,
 ANC,
 bleeding, diabetes, thyroid diseases, preeclampsia, eclampsia,
acute (eg:UTI, malaria and covid-19) or chronic infection and
 maternal nutritional history during pregnancy (detailed during first,
second and third trimester)

5. c. Previous pregnancy:
history of abortion,
fetal death,
early neonatal death,
 premature and/low birth weight birth,
history of early neonatal jaundice,
history of birth defect.

6. e. Drug history:
history of alcohol ingestion,
cigarette smoking ,
any medications during pregnancy (anticonvulsants, anti
TB, warfarin, HAART, thyroid treatment drugs , antenatal
steroid use, contraceptives, cotrimoxazole, Aspirin,
Albendazole)

7. f. Social, personal and family history:
 Family size,
marital status,
housing conditions,
water source, waste disposal,
personal hygiene (hand washing habits, toilet use,
bathing)

8. h. Presenting compliant:
like failure to suckle the breast,
fever,
breathing difficulty,
abnormal body movement,
yellowish discoloration of the skin (jaundice),
altered mentation,
vomiting,
bleeding,
birth defects, etc

9. 2 Neonatal physical examination
• Unlike adults , the order of newborn physical
examination may not follow the usual cardinal
steps, use opportunities as issued.