What is the most significant risk factor for clubfoot?

Choice A reason:

This is a normal WBC for a newborn. According to MedlinePlus, the normal amount of white blood cells (WBCs) found in the bloodstream of a newborn infant is between 4,500 and 10,000 per microliter of blood. The reference ranges for WBC count established by Mayo Medical Laboratories for infants from birth to 2 years are as follows:.

• Birth: 9.0 to 30.0 x 10 9 /L.

• 1 to 7 days: 9.4 to 34.0 x 10 9 /L.

• 8 to 14 days: 5.0 to 21.0 x 10 9 /L.

• 15 days to 1 month: 5.0 to 20.0 x 10 9 /L.

• 2 to 5 months: 5.0 to 15.0 x 10 9 /L. Therefore, a newborn's WBC of 15,000 is within the normal range and does not indicate any problem.

Choice B reason:

You must call the doctor. This is not a correct answer because there is no need to call the doctor for a normal WBC in a newborn. Calling the doctor unnecessarily may cause anxiety and a waste of time and resources.

Choice C reason:

This indicates a severe infection. This is not a correct answer because a WBC of 15,000 does not necessarily indicate a severe infection in a newborn. A high WBC, also called leukocytosis, may be related to infection, but it can also be caused by other factors such as stress, inflammation, trauma, medication, or blood disorders. Moreover, the type and severity of infection can be better assessed by looking at the differential count of the different types of white blood cells (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes) and other signs and symptoms.

Choice D reason:

This is a lab error. This is not a correct answer because a WBC of 15,000 is not likely to be a lab error in a newborn. Lab errors can occur due to improper collection, handling, or analysis of blood samples, but they are rare and usually detected by quality control measures. A WBC of 15,000 is within the normal range for a newborn and does not require repeating the test unless there is a strong suspicion of an error or an inconsistency with other results or clinical findings.

Choice A reason:

Hypertonia is not a characteristic of a preterm infant, but rather of a post-term infant. Hypertonia means increased muscle tone or stiffness, which is more common in infants who are overdue. Preterm infants have poor muscle tone and less subcutaneous fat.

Choice B reason:

Long toenails are also not a characteristic of a preterm infant but of a post-term infant. Long toenails indicate that the infant has grown beyond the expected gestational age. Preterm infants have short and brittle nails.

Choice C reason:

Lanugo is a characteristic of a preterm infant. Lanugo is fine, downy hair that covers the body of the fetus. It usually disappears by the 36th week of gestation, but preterm infants may still have it at birth.

Choice D reason:

Dry skin is not a characteristic of a preterm infant but of a post-term infant. Dry skin indicates that the infant has lost moisture and subcutaneous fat due to prolonged exposure to the amniotic fluid. Preterm infants have thin and transparent skin that may be covered by vernix caseosa, a white, cheesy substance that protects the skin from the amniotic fluid.