Hypoglycemia in the newborn.
Since a universal definition for hypoglycemia is lacking, an operational threshold for initiating therapy has been defined. Hypoglycemia is encountered in a variety of neonatal conditions including prematurity, growth retardation and maternal diabetes. Since hypoglycemia may be asymptomatic, routine screening for this condition in certain high risk situations is recommended. Supervised breast-feeding may be a treatment option in asymptomatic hypoglycemia. However, symptomatic hypoglycemia should always be treated with a continuous infusion of parenteral dextrose. Neonates needing dextrose infusion rates above 12 mg/kg/m should be investigated for refractory causes of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia has been linked to poor neuro-developmental outcome and hence aggressive screening and treatment is recommended.
Narayan
S
S
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India.
Aggarwal
R
R
Deorari
A K
AK
Paul
V K
VK
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000379:methods; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005947:Glucose