Physiologic characteristics of newborn and premature babies. Physiologic and pathologic skin phenomenon.

1. Big picture

A newborn is not a small infant. The first days of life are a transition period from placental support to independent breathing, circulation, temperature control, glucose balance, feeding, bilirubin metabolism, and infection defense.

For the exam, the examiner wants you to distinguish:

Normal adaptation → pink/red skin, transient weight loss, acrocyanosis, vernix, lanugo, Epstein pearls, breast enlargement, physiologic jaundice, normal primitive reflexes.

Dangerous pathology → central cyanosis, poor feeding, lethargy, fever/hypothermia, respiratory distress, petechiae/purpura, vesicles, pustules, conjugated jaundice, rapidly spreading erythema, omphalitis, dehydration, shock.

The key oral-exam logic is:

Is the baby term or premature? → Is the finding physiologic adaptation or disease? → Is there any red flag needing urgent action?

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