How should naloxone be administered to a newborn?

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose, and its administration in newborns requires careful consideration of dosage and route. The correct choice of 0.1 mg/kg IV, IM, or SQ is based on established guidelines for neonatal care.

In newborns, the dosage is typically calculated based on the infant's weight to ensure safe and effective administration. The recommended dose of 0.1 mg/kg reflects the need to use weight-based dosing to prevent potential overdose, as newborns are particularly sensitive to medications and can have varying responses.

The routes of administration—intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), or subcutaneous (SQ)—allow flexibility in how the medication can be delivered, depending on the clinical situation and the availability of IV access. This versatility is crucial in neonatal emergencies where prompt recognition and intervention are vital.

The other options, while involving naloxone, do not align with the weight-based guidelines appropriate for newborns. The other dosages either exceed recommended limits (as seen in the option suggesting 0.4 mg IV) or represent inappropriate dosing that does not consider the weight of the newborn. Thus, using a standardized and safe approach like 0.1 mg/kg