Table 2.
Clinical characteristics of neonates admitted with suspected sepsis at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana, between January 2021 and December 2021.
| Characteristic | Number | Percentage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 549 | (100) | |
| Signs and Symptoms at admission | Lethargy † | 49 | (9.2) |
| Seizures † | 39 | (7.3) | |
| Pale skin † | 29 | (5.4) | |
| Persistent diarrhoea/vomiting † | 13 | (2.4) | |
| Reduced urine output † | 4 | (0.8) | |
| Unconsciousness † | 3 | (0.6) | |
| Body temperature * | |||
| Fever (>37.5 °C) | 158 | (29.8) | |
| Normal | 305 | (57.5) | |
| Hypothermia (<36.5 °C) | 67 | (12.6) | |
| Heart rate * | |||
| Tachycardia (>160 beats/minute) | 119 | (22.5) | |
| Normal | 407 | (76.9) | |
| Bradycardia (<100 beats/minute) | 3 | (0.6) | |
| Respiratory rate * | |||
| Normal (15–60 breaths/minute) | 264 | (51.4) | |
| Respiratory distress (>60 breaths/minute) | 250 | (48.6) | |
| Leucocyte count (109 cells/L) * | |||
| Low (<10) | 119 | (28.1) | |
| Normal (10–20) | 256 | (60.5) | |
| High (>20) | 48 | (11.3) |
† There were multiple responses; * number of neonates with missing data for the following variables: lethargy = 17; seizure = 13; pale skin = 14; persistent diarrhoea/vomiting = 16; reduced urine output = 19; unconsciousness = 13; body temperature = 19; heart rate = 20; respiratory rate = 35; leucocyte count = 126.