Neonatal hypoglycaemia Flashcards
What is neonatal hypoglycaemia?
A condition where newborns have low blood glucose levels, often defined as < 2.6 mmol/L
There is no universally agreed definition, but this figure is commonly used in guidelines.
When is transient hypoglycaemia common in newborns?
In the first hours after birth
What are some causes of persistent or severe neonatal hypoglycaemia?
- Preterm birth (< 37 weeks)
- Maternal diabetes mellitus
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
- Hypothermia
- Neonatal sepsis
- Inborn errors of metabolism
- Nesidioblastosis
- Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
What are some features of neonatal hypoglycaemia?
- May be asymptomatic
- Autonomic changes
- Jitteriness
- Irritability
- Tachypnoea
- Pallor
- Neuroglycopenic symptoms
- Poor feeding/sucking
- Weak cry
- Drowsiness
- Hypotonia
- Seizures
- Apnoea
- Hypothermia
What is a common management strategy for asymptomatic neonatal hypoglycaemia?
Encourage normal feeding (breast or bottle) and monitor blood glucose
What should be done for symptomatic or very low blood glucose in newborns?
Admit to the neonatal unit and administer an intravenous infusion of 10% dextrose
True or False: Neonatal hypoglycaemia can have sequelae in normal term babies.
False
Fill in the blank: A common blood glucose threshold for diagnosing neonatal hypoglycaemia is _______.
< 2.6 mmol/L
What autonomic changes may occur due to hypoglycaemia?
Changes in neural sympathetic discharge
What is a possible neuroglycopenic symptom of neonatal hypoglycaemia?
Drowsiness
