[Metabolic diseases causing acidosis in the neonatal period]

The diagnosis of metabolic diseases during the newborn period is difficult because symptoms and findings are similar to those generally encountered in newborn babies who are ill. Moreover, metabolic diseases are often complicated by infections and cerebral hemorrhages. The article presents a short clinical review of metabolic diseases associated with metabolic acidosis in the newborn and discusses appropriate investigations and differential diagnoses. It is important to remember the possibility of metabolic diseases as the cause of metabolic acidosis in the newborn period.