The Clinical Significance of Extreme Leukocytosis among Newborns: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the clinical significance of extreme leukocytosis (>40,000 cells/µL) at birth among neonates.

Study Design: Data were retrospectively collected on 208 infants with leukocytosis >40,000 cells/µL and on matched normal controls as determined in complete blood counts obtained on the first day of life.

Results: There were no significant group differences in birth weight, Apgar's score, timing of respiratory support, hospitalization in special care units or rehospitalization during the first month of life.

[THE CHALLENGE OF DIAGNOSING RARE LIFE THREATENING SKIN LESIONS].

Skin lesions seen after delivery are frequent and mostly shallow, without the need for special care or diagnosis challenge. In the following case, an infant was born at 35 weeks gestation, presented after the delivery with a well-demarcated, necrotic plaque over the right forearm with neurologic deficit. The differential diagnosis includes life-threatening reasons, therefore, emergent laboratory and imaging tests were held.

[NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS - AN ONGOING CHALLENGE].

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a major cause for morbidity and mortality among neonates, especially among low birth weight premature infants. Even though NEC has been highly investigated during the last few decades, understanding of the pathogenesis is still relatively poor. Throughout the years protective measures, as well as risk factors, were identified, but there is still no clear prevention strategy, and the percentage of neonates suffering of NEC was not changed.