Overview
If you have recently become a parent of a newborn baby, taking care of your child can be extremely tiring. Many of you may not know what you can expect during the first years of your child’s life. In addition, infants go through some health problems trying to adjust to a new environment and a new world.
20 Most Common Health Problems
Fortunately, many of these problems are easy to treat, and some may require medical attention. This blog can help you identify some of these illnesses and make the right call.
1. Colic
If you find your baby crying continuously and for unexplained reasons, they might have a condition called “colic.” Colic is mainly related to gastroesophageal reflux in which the stomach’s acid contents are pushed back into the oesophagus or the food pipe.
2. Common Cold
Infants have a weak immune system that means that they are more prone to contracting infectious diseases. Most babies frequently get chills during the first few years of life, with a runny nose and sneezing.
3. Fever
Having a fever indicates that the body is fighting an infection. However, persistent and high fever of more than 101 degrees in infants can lead to brain damage and seizure.
4. Ear Infections
Ear infections are common in newborn babies. If your baby has an ear infection, they may become fussy, as they might frequently tug at the infected ear. Viral infections are prevalent in infants, but they subside soon.
5. Forceps Marks
During delivery, forceps can leave behind superficial scrapes or red spots on a newborn’s head and face. Generally, these marks disappear within a few days, but a flat, firm lump develops in one of these areas due to minor damage to the tissue under the skin and goes away within a few months.
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6. Diarrhea
Diarrhoea is a widespread reaction to infections in infants. Do monitor your newborn’s stools – if you notice any change in the texture or colour, consult a doctor right away.
7. Jaundice
Jaundice occurs when there is an excess of bilirubin in your baby’s blood, which causes yellowish skin pigmentation. This is a reasonably common condition as many babies are born with neonatal jaundice. Your baby’s liver is not strong enough to get away with the excess bilirubin present in the blood.
8. Abdominal Distention
Your baby might usually stick out after a large feeding. However, between feedings, your child’s belly should feel soft. If your child’s abdomen feels stiff or swollen, this problem is most likely due to constipation or gas, which could signal a severe intestinal illness.
9. Coughing
If the feeding is happening fast, the baby might cough. But if this cough is persistent while being fed, this indicates a problem with the digestive system or lungs. Coughing continuously at night may indicate respiratory problems or whooping cough.
10. Respiratory Distress
This condition occurs when your baby gets insufficient oxygen due to a blockage in the nasal passage. The baby may turn blue because of the oxygen deficit. This causes a wheezing or grunting type of breathing pattern in infants.
11. Nappy Rash
Once your baby feeds regularly, the baby’s nappies will frequently get wet. Because of the nappy material, your baby develops a rash that appears inflamed or reddish on the skin covered by the nappy.
12. Cradle Cap
Infants usually have oily, scaly or patchy skin on the scalp. Sometimes yellow or flaky white or yellow patches appear on the scalp. With time, the scales loosen up and go away.
13. Birth Injuries
Babies are prone to injury during birth, if labour is complicated or lengthy, or when babies’ heads or bodies are enormous. Some of these injuries include a broken collarbone or muscle weakness.
14. Excessive Crying
All infants cry, mainly for no apparent reason. Worry not; you’ll soon become used to your baby’s crying patterns. However, if it sounds peculiar like shrieks of pain or if it persists for a long time, it could mean a medical problem.
15. Lethargy and Sleepiness
Every newborn spends most of the time napping. But if your baby is rarely alert, uninterested in eating or does not wake up on its own for feedings, consult your paediatrician, as this lethargy may indicate a severe illness.
16. Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when there isn’t enough water in your baby’s body. As infants are more prone to diarrhoea or vomiting, they suffer from dehydration. They can also be dehydrated when they are active or during hot weather.
17. Anemia
If you are an anaemic mother, there are chances of your baby being born anaemic. Anaemia is a condition in which red blood cells are less than usual. Anaemia also indicates a lack of haemoglobin, leading to a low oxygen level in the blood. Medical attention is needed in such cases as untreated anaemia could be fatal.
18. Bluish Skin and Apnea
Infants mostly have bluish feet and hands. However, the blue colour fades away as the blood circulation improves. But if you notice the bluish tinge persisting for a long time along with breathing problems (apnea), it could mean that the baby’s heart and lungs are not functioning well.
19. Oral Thrush
Oral thrush is a yeast/fungal infection occurring in your baby’s mouth. This infection is common in babies in which white lesions on the inner cheeks or tongue are seen.
20. Vomiting
Sometimes, your baby tends to spit or vomit during milk feeding, which happens very commonly. Therefore, you are asked to burp your baby to prevent throwing up. After feeding, however, if your baby throws up a greenish vomit continuously, it may indicate a severe gastric problem.
Conclusion
It gets tricky when your baby falls sick. You just read some of the common health problems that babies go through, but again remember that many of these problems are harmless to your child.
Yet you need to know the warning signs to avoid severe health complications. But do Keep in mind to trust your intuition- if you feel worried about your newborn, seek medical help right away.