What is a common late sign of neonatal hypoglycemia?

What is a common late sign of neonatal hypoglycemia?

• A. Jaundice
• B. Seizures
• C. Hypotonia
• D. Fever

Answer: (B)

Neonatal brain cells rely on glucose as their main fuel, so when blood glucose drops, the brain’s function becomes impaired. Early signs of this energy shortage show as mild neurologic symptoms, but as the deficiency persists, the brain’s electrical activity can become unstable, leading to seizures. Seizures therefore fit as a common late sign of neonatal hypoglycemia because they indicate advanced CNS involvement from prolonged low glucose. Jaundice, while common in newborns, isn’t specifically linked to hypoglycemia; hypotonia can occur but isn’t as distinctive a late sign; fever isn’t typically associated with hypoglycemia in newborns.

Neonatal brain cells rely on glucose as their main fuel, so when blood glucose drops, the brain’s function becomes impaired. Early signs of this energy shortage show as mild neurologic symptoms, but as the deficiency persists, the brain’s electrical activity can become unstable, leading to seizures. Seizures therefore fit as a common late sign of neonatal hypoglycemia because they indicate advanced CNS involvement from prolonged low glucose. Jaundice, while common in newborns, isn’t specifically linked to hypoglycemia; hypotonia can occur but isn’t as distinctive a late sign; fever isn’t typically associated with hypoglycemia in newborns.