It is very much important for the mothers, care givers and health workers to know about the (‘DANGER SIGNS’) in a newborn. Early recognition of these signs will help in identifying those babies who need urgent care and treatment and reducing the neonatal mortality rate.
The important danger signs are given below:
- Not feeding well
- Less active than before
- Fast breathing (more than 60 breaths per minute)
- Moderate or severe chest in-drawing
- Grunting / moaning
- Convulsions
- Floppy or stiff
- Temperature >37.50 C or <35.50 C
- Umbilicus draining pus or umbilical redness extending to skin.
- More than 10 skin pustules or bullae, or swelling, redness, hardness of skin
- Bleeding from stump or cut.
All mothers should be advised about how to recognize the danger signs and to report immediately if their babies develop one or more of them