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Background & Objective: Health evaluation and growth monitoring of the infant is a visual diagram of growth and primary health services are based on it. In the best option, these indices must be provided separately for each community. This study was done to evaluate growth indices of newborns in Gorgan- Northern Iran. Materials & Methods: In this observational descriptive study which was carried out during (Oct-Nov 2003), all healthy infants without any major abnormality born within 25-42 weeks of gestational age were evaluated in Dezyani Hospital, Gorgan growth indices (head circumference, length and height) were measured in 1011 infants. Gestational age was defined by Balard scoring and delivery type was recorded, too. After entering data into SPSS-10 software, data were analyzed using chi-square, t-test and correlation bivariate. Results: Mean gestational age (±SD) was 39.86±1.72 weeks and most of them were born by vaginal delivery. Amongst them, 3.2% were premature (less than 37 weeks), 4.4% were low birth weight and 0.69% were very low birth weight. Correlation between growth indices and gestational age was significantly positive in all cases (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that growth indices are lower than other parts of Iran. Further investigations needed, especially longitudinally and cross-sectional, to determine the growth indices in this region and in other parts of country.

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Background and Objective: Jaundice is a common problem among neonate undiagnosed case finally lead to kern-icterus, with significant increasing rate of subsequent morbidity. This study was done to determine the etiology of of severe indirect hyperbilirubnemia in term neonates. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional descriptive study was performed in Taleghany hospital of Gorgan on neonates admitted due to severe hyperbilirubinemia from Sep 2004-Sep 2005. Severe hyperbilirubinemia was considered as bilirubin≥18 mg/dl in term neonates weighing more than 2500g. Bilirubin (total, direct), blood culture, retic count, coombs test, level of glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme, complete blood cell count, mother's and neonate's blood group, urine culture and C-reactive protein tests were measured. Results: 766 term neonates (>2500g) were hospitalized due to hyperbilirubinemia. Severe hyperbilirubinemia was detected in 12% of cases (54 boys, 38 girls). The etiology of 41 cases were unknown, 25 cases were diagnosed as sepsis, 15 neonates were glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme deficient, 7 cases had UTI, 3 neonates had ABO incompatibility and one neonate was due to breast feeding. Conclusion: This study indicated that the most common etiology of severe hyperbilirubinemia in this region is unknown. Sepsis, glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme deficiency, UTI, ABO incompatibility and breast feeding were among other reasons for severe indirect hyperbilirubinemia.