Which of the following is NOT a red flag for newborn sepsis?

• A. Frequent crying without other symptoms.
• B. Poor feeding.
• C. Lethargy.
• D. Rapid breathing.

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that newborn sepsis usually shows up as a group of systemic or feeding-related problems, not a single, nonspecific behavior like crying. Frequent crying by itself is common in healthy newborns and doesn’t point to infection unless it comes with other troubling signs. In contrast, poor feeding is a sign that the baby isn’t taking in enough nutrition and energy, lethargy indicates reduced alertness or responsiveness, and rapid breathing points to possible respiratory or systemic distress. Together these are red flags that warrant prompt medical evaluation. So the statement about crying alone, without other symptoms, is not a red flag, while the other signs indicate potential sepsis.