Information on Baby's Illness Symptoms

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Baby Illness Symptoms

There are the signs that a baby might have a problem. Many of the danger signals in infants are similar to those that will alert you to later in life. But in newborns, several of these signals are more critical and it will require more immediate and detailed evaluation than in older babies and there are some important newborn distress signals 7= t.re will be many occasions in the coming months and years when your hot, and the thermometer will agree. In babies over three monthsmay or may not be cause for alarm, depending on what else is goinger, in a baby under three months of age, a rectal temperature overId be considered cause for an immediate call to the doctor's office.

baby seems perfectly well, his temperature is slightly above 100.4°F,is a possibility that he was overdressed or in a hot environment, you some clothing and try again in thirty to forty-five minutes. A temperature that is closer to normal will be reassuring—but you should run -story by your baby's physician anyway. Do not give the baby acetaminophen(Tylenol) or a tepid bath in this situation, because you need to know whetherfever willwill come down on its own. Besides, the fever itself is not dangerous. Ithe possible causes of the fever that you need to worry about.)

If there is no doubt about the presence of fever, your baby needs to he evaluateright away, either by his own physician or at the emergency room. You may be SU-prised or even alarmed by the number of tests that may be requested after youbaby is examined. The problem is that a newborn fever can indicate a serious bac-terial infection that could involve the lungs, urinary tract, or the tissues that sur-round the brain and spinal cord (these tissues are called meninges). Bacteria cou.also be present in the bloodstream, in which case the baby is said to have sepsis.

It is not unusual for a doctor to recommend that a newborn with a fever undergo blood tests, an evaluation of the urine, and a lumbar puncture can obtain specimens to he cultured for bacteria. A chest X-ray mayhere is any question about pneumonia. In addition, the baby may be he hospital for two or three days so antibiotics can be given intra-at is, through a vein) while the cultures are growing in the laboratory.well and no bacteria are growing in the cultures, he will be sent home.may seem rather drastic in response to a simple fever, but babies_-group are more vulnerable to the spread of bacteria—especially intoream and meninges. If left untreated, the results could he disastrous.

Lack of interest in nursing, poor sucking, or failing to awaken for beyond the expected lime could he an important indicator of a medicalfvou contact a physician with a concern that your newborn is ill, the physi-int to know, among other things, how the baby appears to he feeding.vomiting. You will need to between spitting up and vomiting, since the latter is much more significant newborn.

Decreased activity or alertness. A baby who is listless—with eyes open butspontaneous movement, an indifferent response to stimulation, or very flopmuscle tone—may be quite sick. Believe it or not, a vigorous protest by a 1)a-during an examination is a reassuring finding. At this age, remaining quietdisinterested while being poked and prodded by the doctor is not a sign of beira "good" patient but rather an indication of probable illness.

Nonstop crying. Many babies enter a "crying season" between two weeks and three months of age, without any specif.medical cause. But you can't assume that prolonged, inconsolable crying is nor-mal until the baby has been evaluated by his physician.

Abnormal movements. Unusual jerking of arms, legs, or head, especially if sw-tained for several seconds, may represent a seizure or other significant proble-.-affecting the nervous system. Contact your baby's doctor immediately for furthadvice if you observe this type of activity.

Unusual color. A pale or mottled color of the skin or bluish discoloration of tr.-lips could indicate a change in normal circulation patterns.

HOME MEDICAL SUPPLIESFOR BABY'S FIRST THREE MONTHS

• rectal thermometers

• bulb syringe for clearing nostrils• cotton swabs, cotton balls

• acetaminophen infant drops

• topical ointment for diaper rasho humidifier/vaporizer

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