What is the major risk associated with infants experiencing asphyxia during delivery?

Asphyxia during delivery can lead to a significant and immediate concern for the infant's health: an altered acid-base balance. When an infant experiences asphyxia, there is a deprivation of oxygen (hypoxia) and an accumulation of carbon dioxide (hypercapnia), resulting in a respiratory and metabolic acidosis. This disturbance in the acid-base equilibrium can have serious consequences, including impaired organ function and potential long-term neurological damage.

In contrast, while fluid retention, rapid weight loss, and minor infections can indeed impact certain aspects of a neonate's health, they are not the primary concern directly linked to asphyxia during delivery. Fluid retention can occur due to various conditions but is not an immediate critical risk following asphyxia. Rapid weight loss may occur in some cases after birth, but it does not relate to the immediate physiological effects of asphyxia. Minor infections, although important to monitor, do not have the same urgent impact on the infant's metabolic state or overall stability as an altered acid-base balance does in the context of asphyxia. Thus, understanding the relationship between asphyxia and its physiological consequences underscores the focus on monitoring the acid-base balance in affected infants.