Patient's question:
Sister gave birth to a chubby baby, and the whole family felt very happy. However, the brother-in-law noticed some hard lumps on the baby's body while changing his clothes after bathing. He didn't know what they were. Worried about the baby's health, the family hurried to a clinic in the town. After the doctor examined the baby, he diagnosed it as neonatal hard edema.Doctor's answer:
Neonatal hardening syndrome is a syndrome caused by cold injury, infection, or preterm birth, with cold injury being the most common, known as cold injury syndrome. Its characteristics are subcutaneous fat hardening and edema. The skin and subcutaneous tissue first swell, then harden. In severe cases, they resemble hard rubber. The condition first occurs on the calves, cheeks, and shoulders. Later, the outer thighs, buttocks, and upper limbs are also affected, and even the entire body can become hard. The chest and abdomen become hard, leading to breathing difficulties. Due to the hardening of the cheeks, it becomes difficult to open the mouth.