What is given in a case of Hypoglycaemia in a newborn?

UP CHO - 2018

Child Health Nursing (Pediatrics)

Easy

Appeared in: UP CHO - 2018

Explanation

Glucose is the primary source of energy for a newborn's brain, and low levels (hypoglycemia) can cause neurological damage.
The standard medical treatment for neonatal hypoglycemia is the administration of glucose, either orally as a gel or intravenously as a dextrose solution.
This rapidly corrects the low blood sugar and prevents the adverse consequences of cerebral glucopenia (lack of glucose to the brain).
Treatment protocols specify using 10% dextrose (D10W) for newborns to safely and effectively raise blood glucose levels.

Option A: Honey is strictly contraindicated in infants under 1 year old because it can contain spores of Clostridium botulinum, which can cause infant botulism, a potentially fatal illness.
Option B: A newborn's digestive system is immature and not developed to process fruit juices. The appropriate fluids are breast milk or formula. Juice is not a standard or safe treatment for neonatal hypoglycemia.
Option D: This option is incorrect because two of the choices, honey and juice, are unsafe and contraindicated for newborns.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Management of Neonatal Hypoglycemia as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a critical role in identifying at-risk newborns (e.g., infants of diabetic mothers, preterm, large/small for gestational age) and performing timely blood glucose screening.
Rapid recognition and intervention for hypoglycemia are essential nursing responsibilities to prevent long-term neurological complications like developmental delays and seizures.
Patient education is key. Nurses must educate parents about why substances like honey are dangerous for infants and reinforce the importance of proper feeding with breast milk or formula.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'Hypoglycaemia' and 'newborn'. This specifies the medical condition and the exact patient population.
Second, analyze each option for its safety and appropriateness in a newborn.
Evaluate 'Honey': Recall or recognize that honey is dangerous for infants under one year due to the risk of botulism. Eliminate this option.
Evaluate 'Juice': Consider the developmental stage of a newborn. Their digestive system is suited only for breast milk or formula. Juice is inappropriate. Eliminate this option.
Evaluate 'Glucose': Recognize that glucose is the body's primary fuel and the direct, medical treatment for hypoglycemia. This is the most plausible and safest option.
Since 'Honey' and 'Juice' are incorrect, the 'All of these' option is also incorrect. This confirms 'Glucose' as the only correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 pp. 1027-1029, 1025-1027

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