Spontaneous intestinal perforation in a full-term infant: association with infection.

The term spontaneous intestinal perforation suggests a perforation in the gastrointestinal tract of a newborn of no demonstrable cause. Only a few cases have been described in full-term newborns. The aetiology and pathogenesis of the disease are unknown although multiple theories have been proposed.

Eosinophilia in sick neonates.

Eosinophilia is common in the neonatal period. However, its causes, pathomechanism and clinical significance are still unknown. Previous reports have described that eosinophilia may be associated with numerous conditions (establishment of an anabolic state, drug reactions, response to foreign antigens, chronic lung disease, erythropoietin treatment and infections).

Association between duration of neonatal hospital stay and morbidity in the first month of life.

The morbidity of 506 healthy full-term newborns was studied in the first month of life in relation to the time they stayed in the hospital. The average time for the newborns who were born by vaginal delivery was 73.3+/-11.