Question
My baby has neonatal edema, and I would like to ask what are the causes of neonatal edema?
Answer
The causes of neonatal edema are related to the baby’s relatively large surface area, thin and delicate skin, abundant blood vessels, and easy heat dissipation. When the baby needs to produce heat in a cold environment, the skin on the body surface is the main energy source for the baby. When the baby is hungry, the main energy source is white fat. If the baby’s surrounding environment is too low in temperature and excessive heat dissipation occurs, the baby’s body temperature will drop. In addition, if the baby has a severe infection, body temperature may not rise. Under these circumstances, the subcutaneous fat of the baby can easily solidify and become hard, leading to edema and swelling.