What is Neonatal Hypoglycemia?

Neonatal hypoglycemia is when there is a newborn that has low blood sugar. The child needs glucose for energy and brain functions. Levels can drop when there is too much insulin in the body, not enough glucogen, the body isn't producing enough glucose, or the body is using more glucose than it is producing. It is one of the most common newborn metabolic conditions, affecting 1 to 3 out of 1,000 births.

Risk Factors

If the infant has any of certain conditions, it has a higher risk for hypoglycemia. These conditions include a small gestational age, premature birth, blood infections, endocrine disorders, inborn errors of metabolism, having a mother with diabetes or infection at the time of birth, being large for gestational age, intrauterine growth restrictions, or having a lack of oxygen at the time of birth.

Symptoms

While some infants will not have any signs of hypoglycemia, some infants do. These signs can include seizures, tremors, sweating, shaking, rapid breathing, problems keeping body heat, blue-colored skin, breathing problems, decreased muscle tone, irritability, grunting, listlessness, vomiting, nausea, pale skin, poor feeding, and pauses in breathes.

Diagnosis

A simple blood test, urine test, and newborn metabolic disorder screening is all that is needed to diagnose this condition.

Treatment

Treatment includes feeding soon after birth or an IV sugar solution. If the blood sugar levels continue to be low after a few weeks, there can be medications needed to increase the blood sugar or to reduce the insulin production. Rarely, there can be a section of the pancreas removed.

Some complications that may occur with this condition include seizures, heart failure, and developmental delay. However, with good treatments and blood sugar testing, the prognosis for these infants is good.

Source: A.D.A.M.