Newborn consultations in a pediatric emergency department

Introduction: the number of newborn presentations to the Pediatric Emergency Department is gradually increasing. However, not all cases are caused by significant risks. Objective: to describe the characteristics of newborn presentations to the pedriatric emergency department of a comprehensive health care provider between January 1 and December 31, 2018. Method: descriptive study by analysing medical records and telephone interviews to mothers. Newborn, maternal and consultation variables were analysed. Results: 237 presentations were recorded, 209 of which corresponded to newborns, male neonates 53%, average age was 16 days. Diagnostics upon discharge were classified into three categories: 1) consultations associated to childcare (29%), 2) physiological processes (22%) and severe conditions (49%). Hospitalization rate was 27%. 64 newborns were hospitalized: 2 of them belonging to group 1 (low weight gain); 6 to group 2 (jaundice); 56 to group 3. Average hospital stay was 3 days (range 1-14). No deaths were recorded. Conclusions: most consultations were caused by non-severe conditions which were potentially avoidable. However, given the high vulnerability of this group of patients, emergency pediatricians must carefully assess these infants. It may be possible that the frequency of these consultations drops by making access to the first level of care easier, and by providing parents with more complete information. Learning about the health problems that are typical of newborns and the main concerns of parents constitutes an important input for the implementation of improvement strategies and to optimize the use of resources.