Background: The risk of morbidity and mortality increases in newborns requiring postpartum transport. Various scoring systems have been developed to determine mortality risk, such as the Transport Risk Index of Physiologic Stability (TRIPS) and Mortality Index for Neonatal Transportation (MINT) scores. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of MINT and TRIPS scores by comparing them with the Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology-Perinatal Extension (SNAPPE-II) scoring system in preterm and term infants transported within the first 24 h after birth. Methods: This retrospective study included neonates transported within the first 24 h of life to the NICU of Etlik Zübeyde Hanım Women’s Health Training and Research Hospital between 2016 and 2021, following ethics approval. Perinatal data, admission clinical and laboratory parameters, and TRIPS, MINT, and SNAPPE-II scores calculated within the were recorded. Mortality and short-term morbidities were analysed. Group comparisons were conducted using Mann–Whitney U and chi-square tests. Predictive performance and optimal cut-off values were determined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis using the Youden index. p value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 137 newborns were included in the study. Seventy-two cases (52.6%) were preterm, and 65 cases (47.4%) were term newborns. The median gestational age and birthweight were 35.6 weeks and 2485 g, respectively. A total of 10 patients died. For mortality prediction, the areas under the curve for TRIPS, MINT, and SNAPPE-II were 0.919, 0.907, and 0.973, respectively (p < 0.001). The determined cut-off values for TRIPS, MINT, and SNAPPE-II were >19, >4, and >35, respectively. The TRIPS score showed the best accuracy for prediction of mortality in preterm infants. Conclusions: Our data show that MINT and TRIPS scores are efficient beyond SNAPPE-II. They demonstrated high diagnostic effectiveness in predicting mortality in preterm and term infants. The TRIPS score exhibits superior mortality prediction in preterm infants.

Background: Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) is a neurotropic virus that typically remains latent in immunocompetent individuals but may cause severe neurologic complications, including encephalitis, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. Rarely, HHV-6 encephalitis can also occur in immunocompetent children, often presenting with features of acute necrotizing encephalopathy. Cases: We report 2 cases of previously healthy toddlers who presented with fever, seizures and altered mental status. Neuroimaging revealed bilateral thalamic involvement consistent with acute necrotizing encephalopathy. HHV-6 DNA was detected in cerebrospinal fluid via polymerase chain reaction, confirming the diagnosis. Both patients received antiviral therapy with foscarnet, alongside immunomodulatory treatments including intravenous immunoglobulin, corticosteroids, plasmapheresis and, in 1 case, tocilizumab. Clinical outcomes varied, with 1 patient achieving full recovery and the other showing partial neurologic improvement. Conclusions: These cases highlight the potential for HHV-6 to cause severe encephalopathy in immunocompetent children. Early recognition, neuroimaging, and cerebrospinal fluid polymerase chain reaction testing are essential for diagnosis. Combined antiviral and immunomodulatory therapies may improve outcomes by addressing both viral replication and neuroinflammation.