Abstract

FONTENELE, Fernanda Cavalcante  and  CARDOSO, Maria Vera Lúcia Moreira Leitão. Skin lesions in newborns in the hospital setting: type, size and affected area. Rev. esc. enferm. USP [online]. 2011, vol.45, n.1, pp. 130-137. ISSN 0080-6234.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0080-62342011000100018.

Skin lesions can occur in newborns (NBs) at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The objective of this study was to identify skin lesions in newborns hospitalized at a NICU, considering the type, affected area and size. This prospective, descriptive, quantitative study was performed from March to May 2007 at a public institution in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. The sample consisted of 137 newborns, 36 (26%) of which had lesions. RESULTS: hematomas (24; 46%), erythemas (9; 18%), excoriations (6; 12%), ecchymoses (5; 10%), pustules (3; 6%) and others (4; 8%). Regarding the affected area: 40% were < 1cm². As for the size: 68% measured between 1 and 2cm. Geographic form (38%) and localized distribution (92%) prevailed. As to the affected region, the distribution was: limbs (27; 52%), trunk (12; 24%), head (8; 16%) and others (4;8%). In conclusion, the most common skin lesions are hematomas and the limbs are the most affected area.

Keywords : Infant, newborn; Neonatal nursing; Ecchymosis.