MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE SOLICITOR
NEONATAL HYPOGLYCAEMIA
NEONATAL HYPOGLYCAEMIA
Neonatal hypoglycaemia can have very serious consequences and a claim for damages by a clinical negligence lawyer can be substantial. Neonatal hypoglycaemia is rare and infants who suffer from this condition have difficulty maintaining the right glucose (or blood sugar) level in their blood. A newborn child is very sensitive to the influx of glucose into its body. As a foetus inside its mother's womb, the infant is able to maintain glucose levels because the mother's body is able to guard over the infant's blood sugar content but after the birth the child must maintain these levels without assistance from the mother. During breastfeeding, the newborn has to contend with an erratic influx of glucose into its body however the majority of normal newborn infants do adapt and do not encounter significant problems.
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High Glucose Level
Some newborn babies find it difficult to balance the level of glucose in their bodies. Those newborns who cannot adapt to the erratic influx of glucose through breastfeeding may eventually develop low blood sugar levels - a very risky proposition for a delicate child. Premature babies are at great risk of developing neonatal hypoglycaemia. Newborns who come down with an illness, show low birth weight, have hypothermia or experienced asphyxia at birth may also develop neonatal hypoglycaemia. Children of diabetic mothers are also at risk. If the doctor knows that any of the risk factors are present, he must take steps to closely watch over the child's blood sugar levels. This can be difficult because newborns generally can change blood sugar levels frequently and in addition medical experts have not reached a consensus over what blood sugar level counts as "normal" for a newborn baby.
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Common Symptoms
There are some known symptoms that a watchful doctor should bear in mind when monitoring a newborn at risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia. If the child shows signs of jitteriness or emits a high-pitched cry, goes into seizures, or has indications of lethargy, apnoea or dull feeding habits then the doctor should be put on the alert that child is at risk. It should be mentioned however that most newborns who are victims of neonatal hypoglycaemia have no visible symptoms. Should the child be proven to be afflicted with neonatal hypoglycaemia, steps should be taken to help the infant in management of blood sugar levels. This may be done through oral feeding or through the administration of intra-venous based glucose (for infants who cannot tolerate oral feeding).