Apnoea is the most frequent type of breathing disorder in neonatal period frequently prolonging hospitalization and needing cardiopulmonary monitoring. The definition of apnoea has been changing in the past years due to new findings on its physiopathology. Apnoea typically resolves before 37 post menstrual weeks in infants delivered after 28 weeks gestation. However, in infants born before 28 weeks, apnoea frequently persists after term post menstrual age. A total of 104 neonates suffering from apnoeic episodes admitted to our NICU were studied in detail to know various underlying aetiologies and their outcome. The neonates who fulfilled the following criteria were selected for the study group. Out of 104 neonates; which formed the study group majority of neonates are preterm(n=73;70%) and most of apnoeic episodes occurred in day-2 to day-7 oflife(n=77;74.03%). Neonatal sepsis was the predominant cause (n=42;40.3%) observed in the study group followed by apnoea of prematurity (n=31;29.8%). Apnoeic episode is inversely co-related to gestational age and birth weight. The mean birth weight and gestational age were 1553.09 + 310.25gm and 32.61+ 1.6 weeks for the infection group and 1138+205.06gm and 29.96+1.8 weeks for the apnoea of prematurity group.Early recognition by careful observation, assessment of risk and subsequent therapy will have a good outcome. Hence it is of utmost importance that careful monitoring, early intervention and follow up care of high-risk neonates, who are more prone for apnoea as this study supports.

Apnoea of prematurity( AOP), neonatal sepsis; prematurity