What is a consequence of decreased ability to shiver in newborns?

• A. Increased body temperature
• B. Higher susceptibility to pneumonia
• C. Increased risk of heat loss
• D. Enhanced energy production

Answer: (C)

The decreased ability to shiver in newborns primarily results in an increased risk of heat loss. Shivering is a mechanism that adults and older children use to generate heat through muscle contractions to maintain body temperature. In newborns, this response is not fully developed, making them reliant on other means to maintain their core body temperature.

Due to their minimal subcutaneous fat and a high surface area-to-volume ratio, newborns are particularly vulnerable to losing heat to the environment. Without the shivering ability to generate warmth actively, their body temperature can drop more readily in response to cold, leading to hypothermia if they are not adequately warmed.

The other options, while they relate to the health and physiology of newborns, do not directly address the consequence of decreased shivering ability in the same manner. For instance, while newborns may have increased susceptibility to infections or respiratory issues under certain conditions, this is not a direct consequence of their decreased ability to shiver.