Comparison Of Parkin Score And New Ballards Score For Gestational Age Estimation- Prospective Analytical Study.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION In an infant, it is very important to know the correct gestational age (GA) for evaluating the risk of mortality and morbidity. [1] Knowledge of GA modies the line of management. It is essential to know the accurate GA of sick neonates. Even a minor change can lead to drastic shift in lines of management such as doses of inravenous uid and medications. [2] Methods frequently used clinically for GA assessment are New Ballards Scores and Parkins score. In many of the neonatal intensive care units (NICU), The New Ballards system of scoring (NBS) is used to estimate the GA. Various neurological criteria are difcult to be assessed in sick infants and the ones in incubator. The physical maturity is assessed by ” planter surface, skin, lanugo, breast, eye , ear, genitals”. Neuromuscular maturity can be assessed by “ Posture, Arm recoil, Popliteal angle, Square window test, Heel to ear, Scarf sign”. The 4 criteria that are used in Parkins scoring system (PS) are skin texture, breast size skin colour and ear rmness. [1] Many of the neurological criteria used in NBS are difcult to be assessed in sick infants and the ones in incubator where as PS uses only 4 criteria and is easier for practical use.