'Extremely low birth weight' babies have a birth weight of?

Appeared in: AIIMS Bhopal NO - 2018 (Shift-1st)

Explanation

Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) is a standard medical classification for newborns weighing less than 1000 grams at birth.
This category identifies infants at the highest risk for severe health complications and mortality due to extreme prematurity and organ immaturity.
Infants in this category require immediate admission to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for life-sustaining treatment, including respiratory support, thermoregulation, and parenteral nutrition.

Option A: This weight range defines Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW), not Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW).
Option B: This is an incorrectly stated range. The upper limit (2,500 gm) is the cutoff for Low Birth Weight (LBW), and the lower limit (1,500 gm) is the cutoff for Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW). The range is also presented backward.
Option C: This range largely falls within the Normal Birth Weight category. A birth weight of 2,500 gm is the threshold below which an infant is considered to have Low Birth Weight.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Classification of neonatal birth weight as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses use birth weight classifications to anticipate potential complications, plan for the appropriate level of care (e.g., NICU admission), and guide nutritional and respiratory support.
The classification helps in counseling parents about the infant's prognosis and the intensive care journey ahead.
ELBW infants have a high incidence of long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities, and early, coordinated intervention from a multidisciplinary team is critical for optimizing outcomes.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'Extremely low birth weight'.
This is a factual recall question that requires knowledge of standard medical definitions used in neonatology.
Recall the World Health Organization (WHO) classifications for neonatal birth weight.
Mentally review the categories: Normal (≥2500g), Low Birth Weight (<2500g), Very Low Birth Weight (<1500g), and Extremely Low Birth Weight (<1000g).
Compare this definition with the given options and select the one that correctly defines ELBW.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 30-32

E6 Text Book Of Pediatric Nursing 3rd Panchali Pal — Part 1 (pp 36-238 of 713) p. 177-179

Practise the full AIIMS Bhopal NO - 2018 (Shift-1st)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.