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Generally, your baby's immune system
becomes fully developed only when he reaches one year old. This means
that, he is easily susceptible to infections and illnesses during his
first year. Most childhood diseases are mild unless there are
complications. Therefore, you have to wise up to whether or not it is
necessary to call the doctor. The following is a general guide:
Cradle Cap
Cradle cap is caused by the
over-production of sebum -- an oily substance secreted by the glands in
your baby's scalp. Your baby's head may have thick, scaly and
yellowish-brown skin. Apply some olive or baby oil on your baby's scalp
overnight, and carefully comb out the scales the next morning after
washing it with shampoo.
Call the doctor if the cradle cap smells bad, looks red and infected
or causes your baby distress.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea refers to a lot of loose, watery
stools which are smelly, contain mucus and have a different color than
the normal stools. This condition is usually caused by virus or
bacteria in the gut. Parents need to increase baby’s fluid intake, and
sterilize all his feeding apparatus carefully to avoid recurrence.
See a doctor if his diarrhea is excessive as he may suffer from
dehydration.
Ear infections
Ear infections usually occur in the
middle ear because the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear
to the throat, is short and straight in young children. This makes it
easier for mucus, milk and germs to move along the Eustachian tube and
into the middle ear chamber, thus causing infection.
Consult a doctor immediately for antibiotics or pain relief
treatment.
Fever
Fever is the body's natural defense
against infection so it may indicate that your baby is down with a
disease. Fever is also caused by over-dressing, being in a hot car or
the outdoors for too long, or after a vaccination or a prolonged bout
of crying. Remember not to determine the severity of your child's
condition based on the level of his fever but on his overall behavior.
A child who is weak and listless with a mild fever may be sicker than
another with high fever but plays as usual. Offer your feverish child
infant paracetamol and more fluids. {link to what to do when your child
has a fever}
Call the doctor if your child is not his normal self, cries
continuously or has constant bouts of fever that come and go.
Jaundice
Jaundice is caused by a high level of
pigment called bilirubin - a blood waste product which needs to be
processed by the liver and flushed out in the urine. Most of the time,
jaundice is not serious and can be healed by exposing the jaundiced
baby to fluorescent lights in the hospital. In addition, you can
breastfeed your baby more often or increase his fluid intake to make
him urinate more often and thus flush out the biliubin. {link to
jaundice}
See your doctor if your baby is still jaundiced after two weeks as
he may have liver problems.
Snuffles
Newborns have narrow nasal passages. As a
result, they tend to produce a lot of mucus, which blocks the nostrils
and makes the babies snuffle. Allow your baby to feed less but more
often. Usually the problem clears within a few days.
Consult a doctor if your baby seems to be wheezing or has difficulty
breathing.
Spots
Babies are often born with little
yellowish spots on the nose and forehead. Known as 'milia', they are
caused by the glands in the baby's skin as he adapts to life outside
the womb. Basically, these spots are harmless and will usually
disappear within six weeks. Blocked sweat glands in the skin creases or
groin may also cause rashes or tiny blisters.
Call the doctor if the spots have a reddish periphery with central
yellowish pustules as they are septic spots that can spread and cause
harm if they are not attended to early.
Sticky Eyes
Your newborn may get a slight yellowish
or creamy discharge in his eyes, which is caused by bacteria picked up
in your birth canal. Bathing your baby's eyes with warm water and some
cotton wool will help clear the infection. Washing your baby's sticky
eyes with breast milk can help as it contains powerful antibodies to
fight infections.
See the doctor if it persists beyond a week.
Umbilical Hernia
Umbilical hernias are believed to be due
to genetic inheritance, and sometimes may be so small that you fail to
notice them. Occurring in the first three weeks of a baby's life, they
are characterized by a bulging navel, which gets worse during a bout of
crying. More common among boys than girls umbilical hernias usually
clear up by themselves before the child turns three years old.
See a doctor if the hernia does not go away after three years, or if
your baby seems to be suffering constant abdominal pain. lt may
indicate that the loop of the bowel are trapped in the hernia thus
cutting off blood supply. A simple surgery can settle the problem.
Vomiting
It is normal for healthy babies to vomit
and regurgitate a little milk after a feed. To prevent your baby from
swallowing too much air; handle him gently, make sure the teat of his
bottle is always filled with milk when he is feeding and also make sure
he does not cry too much before a feed.
See a doctor if the vomit smells nasty as it may indicate an
infection. If your baby spurts out milk with real force (projectile
vomiting), he may have pyloric stenosis -- a faulty muscle between the
stomach and bowel.
Allergies
Allergies such as asthma, hay fever and
eczema are closely connected in that if your baby has one of these, he
will usually also have the others owing to family history. Allergic
reactions include rashes, excessive mucus, abdominal cramps, diarrhea,
swelling and vomiting. Special care is needed when feeding babies with
allergies because certain foods, such as citrus fruits, strawberries,
eggs, peanuts, corn, tomatoes, wheat products, custards, fish, yoghurt,
milk and beef, are known to bring on an attack. Furthermore, avoid
keeping pets and invest in a good vacuum cleaner to minimize indoor
pollution.
Colic
Colic begins in the first few weeks of
life and can last till your baby turns four years old. lt usually
starts in the evening or night and is the result of painful gut
contractions caused by excessive gas, lactose intolerance, or an
allergy to cow's milk or something the breastfeeding mother ate.
Rocking or massaging your colicky baby can help to calm him.
See a doctor to determine that your baby's crying is due to colic,
and not some other disease.
Constipation
Constipation means the painful passing of
stools which are hard and dry like pebbles, and not the number of times
your baby passes motion. Passing motion once every two or three days is
still all right as long as the stool is soft. Constipation often
happens when your baby starts on formula or solid foods. Therefore,
check that the formula is prepared correctly, and also give your baby a
little extra water.
See a doctor if you feel unsure about what to feed him.
Coughs and Colds
Colds are caused by viruses which can
attack anyone – from adults to breastfed babies. As the symptoms of a
cold include green mucus from the nose, coughing and general
discomfort, it is sometimes mistaken for snuffles. There is no cure for
colds, but they can be avoided by taking immunity-boosting foods, such
as breast milk.
See a doctor if your baby loses interest in food, becomes floppy,
develops blue lips, has breathing difficulties and a persistent fever,
or if the cough comes with wheezing, a high fever and breathlessness.
KIT IT UP!
Every home should be equipped with a
medicine cabinet well stocked with antiseptic cream, cotton wool,
hand-aids, safety pins, a thermometer, skin cream, teething cream and
other essential items.
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