No parent wants to see their child get ill. This is why they make sure they maintain a sanitary environment, always boil the water before mixing it with milk formula to ensure you kill bacteria, hands your hands constantly, etc. But when a baby hasn’t faced any germs while in your womb, it’s only a matter of time before they become sick – it has to happen to improve their immune system. But when your child is sick, you become this warrior knight of protection. You will demand everyone around you wash their hands and wash again. If someone needs to cough, then they need to leave the room, perhaps even the premises. An ill child can cause you to think that you are the worst parent in the world, but this is something every parent has experienced.
But any mother and father will know that as crazy as this sounds, you want and need to do everything you can to protect your child and keep it healthy. If your child shows even the slightest signs of illness, there is a desire to get to the doctor straight away and find out what is wrong.
It might be as simple as getting them family care medicine or maybe your doctor will tell you that all they need is time and rest to recover from whatever is ailing them. Sometimes just going to the doctors can help remove any worry from your mind, particularly if you don’t know what is wrong.
There are a number of different ailments that can affect your child, particularly in the early months. So you need to be able to recognize some of the more common – and less common – signs that your newborn may be suffering from illness of all kinds. Knowing what to look for in these illnesses can help you aid your child as efficiently as possible and also hopefully ease your mind should illness strike. It is normal for all parents to worry about their children, and many parents seek to find pediatricians, similar to North Raleigh Pediatrics (Www.northraleighpediatrics.com/our-providers/), who could help put their minds at ease when it comes to any illnesses. With so many ailments and sicknesses having similar symptoms it really does help to put your mind at ease by talking to your child’s doctor.
SKIN CONDITIONS
A skin condition in newborns is easy to spot at first. Rashes and dry skin and more can be obvious and might start as a small blemish here and there, but these can quickly spread across the body if not treated.
There are a number of different skin problems that can affect newborns such as eczema, prickly heat, and intertrigo, all of which can occur anywhere on a child’s body. Furthermore, while it may be more associated with adolescence, there is the case of baby acne. This is much like acne experienced by teenagers and adult and information on how to treat and prevent baby acne can be found by following that link.
Should your child fall victim to any one of these skin conditions, researching the best ways to treat them before visiting a pediatrician will hopefully relieve any pain that the child is feeling? Additionally, it is vital to treat as soon as possible and ensure that the disease is not passed on to you, friends, or other children.
DIGESTIVE ISSUES
With newborns’ stomachs still adjusting to life outside the womb, there is the potential for digestive issues. During this time, parents may find that the child is prone to vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and more.
Should any of these issues occur, it is vital to recognize which particular problem may be affecting your child? Signs of constipation include crying, loss of appetite, and less than three bowel movements per week. Whereas diarrhea is much similar to that experienced by adults and older children.
It is conditions such as this that can lead to dehydration in your child, which can lead to more severe illness. It could be to do with the baby’s diet and so if this sort of issue does occur then consulting a healthcare professional should give you the correct information on how to treat it.
Digestive issues can strike at any time and could also be linked with other illnesses. With newborns being unable to communicate in anything other than cries, grunts and smiles (or lack of smiles), understand what to look for will give you ample opportunity and time to take the necessary measures required.
COLD AND FLU
You can do everything you can to keep your child free from cold, flu and other viruses. However, new strains are evolving every year and no matter how vigilant you are there is still the danger that your child can succumb to one of these ailments.
Cold and flu can strike at any time, but it is more prominent during the colder months. When your child is suffering from one of these illnesses, knowing how to identify what action to take after establishing what is wrong will ease any pain and speed up the recovery process.
If your child appears to be suffering from these sorts of symptoms, it is imperative that you ensure they get as much rest as possible. With a child in pain, this is easier said than done, but for newborns in particular, it is understandable to be reluctant when wanting to administer medication.
Furthermore, you can use steam to clear nasal passages (not directly onto the child of course) as well as bulb syringes to extract mucus from their nose as they will find it difficult to blow as older children are used to doing. And, as with many different illnesses, ensuring they get as many fluids as possible will help to flush out any illness as well as keeping them hydrated, which as mentioned can lead to further issues.
INFECTIONS
Infections in newborns can occur when their immune system is not yet up to scratch. This is to be expected with someone who has just come into the world, but at the same time, it can potentially be dangerous for them should they contract something that their body is unable to deal with.
Newborns can develop infections through factors such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites and it is typically best to check them into the hospital to ensure that they are free from any further possible infections.
But recognizing when a newborn is suffering from an infection is perhaps the most essential part. Possible symptoms of infection include extreme changes in temperature – either very high or very low, difficulty breathing, loss of appetite, and irritability. Like with many symptoms it may be that not all of these will occur at the same time.
For reasons such as this, it is vital to take action as soon as possible. Potential infections include Group B Streptococcal Disease (GBS), Listeriosis, and Meningitis. These infections can occur anywhere between two weeks and six to eight months post birth. While is it advised that you avoid undertaken any home remedies, there is still a responsibility to make your child as comfortable as possible during its illness. The doctor will take care of the rest.
FEVER
A fever in newborns is considered as such when the rectal temperature (as this is the most accurate) reaches 100.4? (or, 38?) or higher. Anything below this is not considered a fever and is actually considered to be a normal internal temperature.
A newborn suffering from a fever could have occurred in any number of ways. It could be due to the bath being too warm or even from too much physical activity. This is very similar to how fevers affect adults and older children alike.
Depending on the age of your child, there are different ways in which parents can look to alleviate your newborn’s illness. For children three months or younger, it is imperative that you seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Older babies are at smaller risk of complications from fevers, but that doesn’t mean the fever needs to be ignored. It has been advised that it is essential to treat symptoms and not the number that shows up on the thermometer, as these sorts of illnesses may take time to grow and develop.
HEALTHY AND HAPPY
We all want our children to be as healthy and happy as possible. With newborns, an illness can feel like the end of the world, and this is particularly true for new parents without previous experience.
Ensuring that you recognize signs of all sorts of illnesses will allow you peace of mind should anything crop up. While you may consider yourself to be a nuisance if you were to continually run the doctor with any old ailment, when it comes to your child, there is no problem with being cautious.
That being said, educating yourself on the right symptoms to look for will make any diagnosis much easier and allow treatment to be undertaken quicker and more effectively.
Once you start learning the signs there will be much less worrying and more health and happiness around the home. You may finally be able to start looking into the better parts of raising a newborn. And there sure are lots of things to look forward to. Giving them baby food and solids for the first time, teaching them words, taking their pictures with help from a newborn photography Minneapolis professional and all the little things you can think of to help their brains get a headstart in life. Don’t let a little illness get in the way of this monumental part of your life, theirs too.
