5 Common Illnesses Every New Parent Should Know

As a parent to a newborn, you need to understand that the common cold and flu are not the only diseases young kids are susceptible to. Your infant is vulnerable to a whole host of common diseases, some of which you have probably never heard of. Bear in mind that paediatrics is a collaborative effort between you and your kid’s doctor, and every party has an important role to play in the health of your kid.

Both the confinement nanny and mother must be an ardent observer and accurate reporter, while the paediatrician will use your observations for an appropriate diagnosis and prescribe proper treatment.  For this reason, you need to make sure you are capable of identifying your infant’s symptoms. Additionally, make sure the information is accurate since this is what the doctor will use for his or her diagnosis.

Here are some of the common newborn illnesses you need to know.

1. Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER)

Within the first few days after birth, the majority of infants will experience different levels of GER. This results when the acidic contents of the stomach regurgitate back into the oesophagus, initiating pain. This disease is common in infants because the circular band of muscles acting as a valve between the oesophagus and the stomach is immature. The symptoms include regular vomiting, gagging noises, the kid throwing his or her legs around aimlessly, and frequent wet burps. This can be treated by feeding the infant regularly, but only in small quantities. A small amount of food in the stomach will help manage the reflux. Regular feeding stimulates the creation of saliva that defuses the acid and lubricates the oesophagal lining.

2. Colds

The majority of infants will develop several colds within the first year after birth. Colds come as a result of the viral infections that cause the nasal membranes to swell and produce mucus. The breathing passage is blocked with mucus, making the baby cough, wheeze and breathe rapidly. This might affect both the eating and eating patterns of the kid. Kids might also experience fever, running nose, sneezing and decreased appetite.

3. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

This is a dangerous virus of early infancy that causes many respiratory illnesses in kids below one year.  In most cases, the RVS will start as a common cold with a frequent running nose, cough, and low fever. The virus can infect the bronchial passage, resulting in bronchitis. The virus can make your child wheeze when breathing, and if it goes to the lungs, your kid might develop viral pneumonia.

4. Constipation

Once your baby starts consuming solid food, they can become constipated and experience difficulty when releasing stools. Constipation will stretch the intestines and weaken surrounding muscles, making it hard to pass the stool.  Look out for stools that are infrequent and hard, and make sure you keep a record of your infant’s bowel movements.

5. Diarrhoea

This means that your infant has frequent and watery bowel movements. Diarrhoea can be caused by a bacterial infection, an allergy, medication or a virus. Breastfed babies can have 12 bowel movements daily, but once they are three months old, they can go a day without a single bowel movement. Once you notice the baby has frequent and watery bowel movements all of a sudden, just know that he or she has diarrhoea.

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