Newborn care: hypothermia: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Newborn care: hypothermia

Sample item

A 2-day-old term newborn has an axillary temperature of 36.2 degrees Celsius. The baby is feeding well and is active. How should this be classified and managed?

AMild hypothermia (cold stress), managed with skin-to-skin contact, a warm room and breastfeedingBFever, needing a sepsis work-upCNormal temperature, so no action is neededDSevere hypothermia needing NICU admission

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Mild hypothermia (cold stress), managed with skin-to-skin contact, a warm room and breastfeeding

WHO defines cold stress or mild hypothermia as 36.0 to 36.4 degrees Celsius, moderate hypothermia as 32.0 to 35.9 and severe as below 32. Normal axillary temperature is 36.5 to 37.5. Mild hypothermia is corrected by skin-to-skin contact, covering the head, keeping the room warm and continuing breastfeeding.

Option by option

A. Mild hypothermia (cold stress), managed with skin-to-skin contact, a warm room and breastfeeding (correct)
Correct. 36.2 degrees Celsius falls in the cold stress range and is treated by skin-to-skin warming.
B. Fever, needing a sepsis work-up
Fever is 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher, and this temperature is below normal.
C. Normal temperature, so no action is needed
A normal range begins at 36.5, so this value requires action.
D. Severe hypothermia needing NICU admission
Severe hypothermia is below 32 degrees Celsius, which is far lower than this value.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is A, Mild hypothermia (cold stress), managed with skin-to-skin contact, a warm room and breastfeeding. WHO defines cold stress or mild hypothermia as 36.

Why is "Fever, needing a sepsis work-up" not the answer?

Fever is 37.5 degrees Celsius or higher, and this temperature is below normal.

Why is "Normal temperature, so no action is needed" not the answer?

A normal range begins at 36.5, so this value requires action.

Why is "Severe hypothermia needing NICU admission" not the answer?

Severe hypothermia is below 32 degrees Celsius, which is far lower than this value.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Newborn care: hypothermia in PSM. 0 to 36.4 degrees Celsius, moderate hypothermia as 32.0 to 35.9 and severe as below 32. Normal axillary temperature is 36.5 to 37.5. Mild hypothermia is corrected by skin-to-skin contact, covering the head, keeping the room warm and continuing breastfeeding.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Newborn care: hypothermia?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.