Question

A newborn infant at 17 days old was hospitalized due to malnutrition caused by insufficient breastfeeding. The child now exhibits symptoms such as loss of appetite, frequent feeding during sleep, and failure to swallow milk held in the mouth. Additionally, there are signs of eyes converging inward, decreased movement, and high muscle tone. The inquiry is whether these symptoms indicate a brain disorder, the severity of the condition, and the treatment methods.

Answer

  1. Correct hypoxemia and hypercapnia, and use artificial respiration when necessary.
  2. Maintain normal blood pressure to ensure sufficient cerebral blood flow, which can be achieved through dopamine intravenous infusion.
  3. Provide adequate glucose to meet the energy needs of brain tissue.
  4. Correct metabolic acidosis using sodium bicarbonate administered slowly through intravenous infusion.