A mother brings her 3-day-old newborn to the clinic. The baby is yellow to the palms and soles, feeds poorly, and is difficult to wake. What should the nurse do first?

Correct answer: A. Urgently refer the newborn for medical assessment

  • A. Urgently refer the newborn for medical assessment
  • B. Reassure the mother that normal jaundice needs no care
  • C. Expose the newborn to direct sunlight at home
  • D. Stop breastfeeding until the yellow colour disappears

Explanation

Jaundice involving the palms and soles with poor feeding and lethargy is a danger sign requiring urgent assessment for severe hyperbilirubinaemia or another illness. Sunlight is not a safe treatment, and breastfeeding should generally continue unless a clinician gives a specific instruction.

Submitted by a TestUstad contributor and published by the TestUstad editorial teamLast updated
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About Care of the Newborn

Newborn care covers immediate assessment, Apgar scoring, thermal protection, airway management, cord care, identification, vitamin K, early breastfeeding and neonatal resuscitation. It also includes normal newborn findings, prevention of infection, care of premature or low-birth-weight infants, recognition of danger signs, jaundice and safe discharge counselling.

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