The nurse is caring for a newborn who was born 24 hours ago to a mother who received no prenatal care. The newborn is a poor feeder but sucks avidly on his hands. Clinical manifestations also include loose stools, tachycardia, fever, projectile vomiting, sneezing, and generalized sweating. Which should the nurse suspect?

A) Seizure disorder
B) Narcotic withdrawal
C) Placental insufficiency
D) Meconium aspiration syndrome

Newborns exposed to drugs in utero usually show no untoward effects until 12 to 24 hours for heroin or much longer for methadone. The newborn usually has nonspecific signs that may coexist with other conditions such as hypocalcemia and hypoglycemia. In addition, these newborns may have loose stools, tachycardia, fever, projectile vomiting, sneezing, and generalized sweating, which is uncommon in newborns. Loose stools, tachycardia, fever, projectile vomiting, sneezing, and generalized sweating are manifestations not descriptive of seizure activity. Placental insufficiency usually results in a child who is small for gestational age. Meconium aspiration syndrome usually has manifestations of respiratory distress.