Question
A newborn was found to have hard lumps on their body after a bath, diagnosed by a doctor as newborn edema. Is this condition dangerous for the baby?
Answer
Newborn edema is a syndrome caused by cold injury, infection, or preterm birth, with cold injury being the most common, also known as cold injury syndrome. The characteristic of this condition is the hardening of subcutaneous fat and the appearance of swelling. The skin and subcutaneous tissue first appear swollen and then become hard, potentially resembling hard rubber in severity. Edema usually starts in the lower legs, cheeks, and shoulders and may later spread to the outer thighs, buttocks, and upper limbs, even affecting the entire body. Edema in the chest and abdomen may cause difficulty breathing, while edema on the cheeks may make it difficult to open the mouth.