The first 12 months after childbirth can be overwhelming for mothers, especially first-timers. A baby will throw your normal routines out of the window, forcing you to quickly adapt to crazy timelines like being awake all night and day to attend to them.
But one of the biggest headache for parents around the world is infant illnesses. No matter how many precautions you may take as a parent, your infant is almost guaranteed to catch something along the way. Most times these illnesses are not that serious, but at times they can be.
To prepare you for this trying period, here is a list of 10 common illnesses that affect infants at some point in their lives and the possible ways you can deal with them.
Common Cold
Babies are likely to be hit by the common cold as many as five times within a 12-month period. There are more than 200 viruses that are responsible for the various strains of this disease, with the most prevalent being the rhinovirus. In infants, the common cold manifests itself through dry coughs, loss of appetite, incessant crying due to discomfort, high fever and difficulty in sleeping.
Simple remedies that can be tried at home include over-the-counter pain medications such as Tylenol and the administration of fluids to counter hydration. You can also use saline nasal drops to thin out the thick mucous that blocks their airways.
Gastroenteritis
Commonly known as the stomach bug, any experienced parent has a tale or two about how this little stomach bug turned their lives upside down. Gastroenteritis spreads fast and can be caused by germs, although the most common cause is from a viral infection. Some of the symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.
It’s important to prevent dehydration, so give your infant lots of fluids like water, breast milk or an oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte. Gastroenteritis can turn dangerous quickly, so it’s advisable to check with your doctor if you have any doubts about dealing with it at home.
Neonatal Jaundice
Newborn jaundice is a condition that happens when there is a very high level of bilirubin in the baby’s blood. This makes their skin appear yellow. Bilirubin is usually dealt with by the liver, but in babies, the liver is not mature enough to effectively rid the blood of the substance.
Jaundice symptoms include yellow skin that starts with the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Passage of yellow urine is also another big indicator of neonatal jaundice.
Jaundice usually clears itself after a few days once the liver is able to keep up with the body. Some babies are sent home from the hospital with a type of pad called a biliblanket, which delivers at-home phototherapy. In the event that jaundice persists, a trip to the doctor is necessary, since it could be an indicator of more serious underlying issues.
Colic
Colic is every parent’s nightmare. Its exact cause is not known. But if your baby starts crying inconsolably for hours, often at predictable times in the evenings, it’s probably colic. Colic usually starts around the second week of life and extends up to 3 months. It occurs in many healthy infants.
Parents have found relief in a variety of ways, such as giving gentle belly massages, riding around in a car, playing white noise and offering a pacifier. If crying is excessive and uncontrollable, a doctor should be consulted to ensure it’s from colic and not something else.
Fever
Fever in infants is a common indicator that the body is fighting an infection. However, this does not make it something that should be overlooked. Fever causes a lot of discomfort in babies, which may be expressed through screams and high-body temperatures.
Most fevers are not that serious, but you should seek your doctor’s opinion the moment the temperatures go too high, if there are other symptoms or when everything you have tried at home fails. A general rule for calling: Babies under 3 months, call the doctor for any fever; for 3-6 months, once the temperature reaches 102. For 6 to 24 months, contact a doctor if a fever goes above 102 and lasts longer than a day.
High fevers have been known to cause brain damage in babies if left unchecked.
Oral Thrush
The common rash on infant tongues characterized by a white patch is called thrush. Thrush is a yeast infection that creates white lesions on the tongue and the insides of the cheeks. It’s rarely serious and is most common in babies under 2. Older babies, however, can develop thrush from taking antibiotics used to treat other infections.
Also known as oral candidiasis, the condition can be uncomfortable and cause soreness in the mouth. If mom is breastfeeding, it can also be passed back and forth, so both mom and baby should be treated at the same time. Typical treatment is with an antifungal topical medication.
Strep Throat
Strep throat can affect babies, especially those that have just learned to move. It is caused by a bacteria called streptococcus and spreads mainly through sneezing and coughing. It’s more common in school-aged children.
The standout symptom of strep throat is severe pain in the throat area that at times makes swallowing food a very painful experience.
Strep throat can be treated using antibiotics. If the condition persists then a different course of antibiotics is usually prescribed by the doctor. Extreme cases of strep throat, which are very rare, need surgery.
Skin Problems
Infants have sensitive skin that reacts easily to external conditions. Skin rashes usually break out within days of being born and can be caused by diapers, soap or even coming into contact with certain fabrics.
Some babies have skin that produces a lot of oil, which can also cause a rash breakout. Other conditions include cradle cap, infant eczema and heat rash.
Each skin condition has its own ways of management, but common measures to try include maintaining hygiene and applying OTC creams. A doctor can offer the best way to treat a skin condition.
Constipation
Many new parents start panicking when their babies go days without emptying their bowels. Constipation can be a very painful experience, since infants are unable to deal with a hard stool at that stage of their lives.
A distended belly is an early indicator that your baby is constipated. Other signs include crying and unwillingness to feed. In extreme cases, the little stool that they are able to force out is usually a little bloodied.
Hydration, stomach massages and exercises have been known to ease the pain and even help them to finally poop. Exercise patience in such a situation and keep a calm head because the results may not be instantaneous.
Pinworms
Pinworms are the most common type of intestinal worm infection in the United States and one of the most common worldwide. These tiny parasites can be a source of pain for babies that begins when tiny eggs hatch around the anal area after traveling down the digestive tract.
Symptoms include incessant scratching at night. Fortunately for you, pinworms pose no danger. They just cause discomfort and can be dealt with easily. Doctors may recommend that the whole family be treated. Maintain high levels of hygiene, especially hand washing.
The Bottom Line
Most of these infant illnesses are harmless. Others simply disappear on their own even before anyone notices that they were there in the first place. However, all infants are not the same ― what may look mild on one may come down hard on another. Do not write anything off.
Only turn to home remedies when you are sure of what you are doing. And never be afraid to contact your doctor if you have any questions.