Newborn danger signs

The newborn danger signs can be present any time from birth up to 2 months old. At the time of birth, many babies will have spontaneous breathing without any problem and begin to feed soon after skin to skin contact. However, some babies will have a variety of problems immediately after birth, like hypothermia and asphyxia. Some babies have late problems just after the postpartum period or earlier. All these problems are life threatening because babies have immature organs and they do not have immunity to withstand the disease. Therefore, you are responsible for assessing and referring the newborn when you see those signs and symptoms.

You need to teach the mother to look for these signs in the newborn and advise her to seek care on time if she observes any one of the danger signs.

Refer the newborn urgently if any of these signs are present:

• Breathing ≤ 30 b/m or ≥ 60b/m, Grunting or gasping, severe chest indrawing, blue tongue and lips.
• Unable to suck the breast or sucking poorly.
• The baby feels cold to touch or axillary temperature < 35°C
• Feels hot to touch or axillary temperature equal to or greater than 37.5°C
• Red swollen eyelids and pus discharge from the eyes.
• Convulsions.
• Jaundice (yellow skin or mucous membrane) (at age less than 24 hours or more than two weeks) involving soles of the feet and palms of the hands.
• Pallor ( palm and /or plantar surface are white)