Question

Infant born to a diabetic mother is at risk for all of the following, EXCEPT

• A. Neonatal hepatitis
• B. Polycythemia
• C. Hypoglycemia
• D. Congenital malformations

Hint:

Think about which of these problems actually traces back to fetal hyperinsulinism.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Question.
We need to spot the one problem that is NOT a recognized risk for an infant of a diabetic mother (IDM).

Step 2: Key Concept.
High maternal blood glucose crosses the placenta and pushes the fetal pancreas to make more insulin. This fetal hyperinsulinism, along with the direct effects of high glucose exposure, explains most of the classic problems seen in an IDM: macrosomia, hypoglycemia soon after birth, polycythemia, electrolyte problems, breathing trouble, and a higher rate of congenital malformations if sugars were poorly controlled in early pregnancy.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation.
Option (A), neonatal hepatitis, is a liver problem usually linked to infections or metabolic liver disease, not to maternal diabetes. There is no established link between maternal diabetes and neonatal hepatitis.
Option (B), polycythemia, happens because chronic fetal hypoxia and high insulin levels push up red cell production, so this is a real risk in an IDM.
Option (C), hypoglycemia, is the most classic problem. Once the baby is born and the mother's glucose supply stops, the baby's own high insulin level keeps pulling blood sugar down, so early feeding and monitoring is needed.
Option (D), congenital malformations, especially of the heart, spine, and other organs, occur more often when blood sugar control was poor around the time of conception and early pregnancy.

Step 4: Final Answer.
Neonatal hepatitis has no established connection with maternal diabetes, unlike the other three well known risks. \[ \boxed{\text{Neonatal hepatitis}} \]