Toxic reaction to salicylate in a newborn infant: similarities to neonatal sepsis.

A newborn infant had metabolic acidosis, tachypnea, and hypoglycemia. After the initial diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, she was given antibiotics but failed to respond. Further investigation revealed that her mother had taken aspirin throughout pregnancy. This case illustrates the similarities between symptoms of neonatal sepsis and those of a toxic reaction to salicylate.