Which symptom should prompt urgent evaluation for possible newborn sepsis?

• A. Excessive crying.
• B. Poor feeding.
• C. Fever or hypothermia.
• D. Normal weight gain.

Answer: (B)

Recognizing early signs of newborn sepsis relies on noticing when feeding and energy levels drop, since a very young infant cannot describe what isn’t right. Poor feeding is a strong red flag because infection can blunt a baby’s appetite and the ability to suck, and reduced intake can quickly lead to dehydration and low blood sugar. That combination often marks a systemic issue requiring urgent medical assessment and sometimes treatment.

Excessive crying is nonspecific and common for many benign reasons, so it doesn’t point as clearly to sepsis. Normal weight gain suggests the baby is taking in enough calories and growing well, which makes a serious infection less likely at that moment. Fever or hypothermia is indeed worrisome and also requires prompt evaluation, but in this context poor feeding most directly signals potential sepsis in a nonverbal newborn.