What is a common characteristic of neonatal encephalopathy?

Neonatal encephalopathy is a condition that occurs in newborns, usually as a consequence of factors such as hypoxia, ischemia, or metabolic disturbances. A defining characteristic of this condition is the presence of difficulty in initiating and maintaining respiration. This phenomenon arises due to the impact of the underlying brain injury affecting the respiratory centers in the brain, leading to challenges in establishing normal respiratory patterns.

In such cases, the infant may exhibit irregular breathing patterns or respiratory distress, which necessitates careful monitoring and often intervention to support adequate respiration. The other options, while they may present in various contexts, do not exemplify the most common characteristics typically associated with neonatal encephalopathy. Specifically, rapid breathing may occur due to different reasons in neonates, and high levels of alertness or increased muscle tone are not indicative of this condition, as neonates with encephalopathy often display decreased alertness and may have hypotonicity rather than increased muscle tone. Thus, the emphasis on respiratory difficulties aligns well with the pathophysiological features of neonatal encephalopathy.