Final answer:
The cardinal signs and symptoms of sepsis in a newborn are temperature instability, apnea, bradycardia, hypotension, difficulty feeding, irritability, lethargy, and limpness. Among the options provided, poor feeding and lethargy are correct and align with the common clinical manifestations of neonatal sepsis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cardinal signs and symptoms of sepsis in a newborn include a range of clinical features that may vary depending on the timing (early versus late onset) and severity of the infection. These features can encompass temperature instability, apnea (cessation of breathing), bradycardia (slow heart rate), hypotension (low blood pressure), difficulty in feeding, irritability, lethargy, limpness, seizures, bulging fontanel (the soft spot on the baby’s head), a stiff neck, hemiparesis (weakness on one side of the body), and opisthotonos (rigid body with arched back and head thrown backward).
Given the information above, the most correct answer from the provided options that match the question’s cardinal signs and symptoms of sepsis in a newborn is poor feeding and lethargy, as these are among the common clinical manifestations seen in neonatal sepsis.