Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 28, 2026
07:39
How to Obtain Reliable Visual Event-related Potentials in Newborns
Published on: October 24, 2019
6.8K
Hypoglycemia in unmonitored full-term newborns-a surveillance study
Michael P Flavin1, Horacio Osiovich2, Kevin Coughlin3
1Department of Pediatrics, Queen's University.
Paediatrics & Child Health
|March 8, 2019
Summary
Severe hypoglycemia in low-risk newborns is uncommon but can cause significant harm. Early identification of concerning signs and risk factors is crucial for better outcomes in these infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Routine hypoglycemia monitoring is not recommended for most full-term newborns.
- Understanding the incidence and characteristics of hypoglycemia in low-risk newborns is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence, presentation, and case characteristics of severe hypoglycemia in apparently low-risk, full-term newborns.
- To identify clinical clues for early detection of neonatal hypoglycemia.
Main Methods:
- A national study utilizing the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program.
- Data collected via detailed questionnaires from reporting pediatricians on confirmed cases.
Main Results:
- 93 cases of severe hypoglycemia identified in low-risk, full-term newborns.
- Common features included maternal hypertension (23%), maternal obesity (23%), and concerning signs/feeding issues (98%).
- Neurodevelopmental concerns were reported in 20% of cases, with abnormal brain MRIs in 11 of 13 infants.
Conclusions:
- Severe hypoglycemia in unmonitored newborns, though uncommon, is linked to significant morbidity.
- Identifying specific risk factors and clinical signs can aid in early diagnosis.
- Supports the use of norm-based standards for identifying small-for-gestational age infants.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Hypoglycemia and Glucagon
958
Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...
958
01:26Principles of Disease Surveillance
508
Disease surveillance is the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of health data essential to the planning, implementation, and evaluation of public health practice. This process integrates data dissemination to entities responsible for preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. Surveillance systems provide crucial information for action, helping public health authorities make informed decisions to manage and prevent outbreaks, ensure public safety, optimize...
508
01:25Immune Surveillance by NK Cells and Phagocytes
8.6K
Immune surveillance is an integral part of the innate immune system, involving the continuous monitoring of peripheral tissues to detect and respond to pathogens, infected cells, or cancerous cells. This surveillance is conducted primarily by natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes, which employ distinct but complementary mechanisms to identify and eliminate threats.
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
Natural Killer Cells: The Fast Responders
NK cells are large granular lymphocytes found in the blood and lymphatic system. These...
8.6K
01:05Long-term Depression
33.2K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
33.2K
01:03Long-term Depression
3.3K
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over...
3.3K
01:14Directional Terms
16.2K
Directional terms are essential for describing the relative locations of different body structures. For instance, an anatomist might describe one band of tissue as "inferior to" another, or a physician might describe a tumor as "superficial to" a deeper body structure. These terms often use comparative terms in pairs to trace out the relative locations of one body part to another or descriptions of body tissues like the deeper ones from superficially present with reference to...
16.2K