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Neonatal Birthmarks at the 4 Central Hospitals in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
Vilounna Sanaphay1, Sourideth Sengchanh1, Alongkone Phengsavanh1
1University of Health Sciences, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
Insights
Common newborn skin conditions like sebaceous gland hyperplasia and Mongolian patches are frequent in Lao infants. Differentiating these benign lesions from pathologic ones is crucial for accurate diagnosis and parental reassurance.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Dermatology
- Pediatric Skin Conditions
- Public Health in Southeast Asia
Background:
- Newborn skin disorders are common, often causing parental anxiety and concern for clinicians.
- Distinguishing benign neonatal skin lesions from pathological ones is essential to prevent unnecessary interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the most common cutaneous conditions in Lao neonates.
- To provide data on neonatal dermatological prevalence in Lao PDR.
- To aid in differentiating common benign neonatal skin findings.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted in four central hospitals in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR.
- Data was collected from September 2019 to February 2020.
- 500 neonates were examined for the presence of skin lesions.
Main Results:
- The three most prevalent neonatal skin conditions identified were Sebaceous gland hyperplasia (53%), Mongolian patches (46.6%), and Erythema toxicum neonatorum (30%).
- These findings represent the first published data on neonatal skin conditions in Lao newborns.
- The high prevalence of these benign conditions underscores the need for clinical awareness.
Conclusions:
- Sebaceous gland hyperplasia, Mongolian patches, and Erythema toxicum neonatorum are the most common skin conditions in Lao newborns.
- Understanding the prevalence of these benign conditions can reduce unnecessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
- This study provides essential baseline data for neonatal dermatological care in Lao PDR.
Abstract:
Newborn skin disorders are quite common and happen to occur during the neonatal period. Most of the birthmarks are transient; however, worried parents often seek medical advice from their child's physician regarding skin lesions. Thus, it is important to differentiate the skin lesions from pathologic ones to avoid unnecessary diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. This is the first published study in Lao neonates that carried out the data from 4 central hospitals in Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR from September 2019 to February 2020. Among 500 neonates, Sebaceous gland hyperplasia (53%), Mongolian patches (46.6%), and Erythema toxicum neonatorum (30%) were the 3 most common cutaneous conditions found in the Lao newborns. From a clinical point of view, these findings are often a source of parental anxiety and medical concern for inexperienced clinicians.
