Becoming a parent for the first time is amazing, but it can also be scary -- especially the first time your baby gets sick.
It can be tempting to hit the panic button for every little cough or rash. How can you tell what’s serious, what’s just new parent jitters, and what can wait until your baby’s next checkup?
Here are six serious symptoms in babies that you should never ignore.
1. Blue lips (cyanosis)
If your baby’s lips are turning blue, or the mucus membranes in their mouth or tongue turn blue, this is a sign that they are not getting enough oxygen. This condition is known as cyanosis. What should you do?
Take your child to the nearest emergency room ASAP. I prefer Prima Medika but if you are closer to another facility go there. If you are in a country with a 911 or 000 ambulance service dial them. On this Island it is usually faster to drive yourself.
2. Strained breathing
All babies grunt and groan from time to time. But if their breathing is consistently hard and fast (over 50 / min) and you can see that they are using their chest muscles more than they should be and that their nose flares out, it may be a sign of respiratory distress. What should you do?
(Same as for cyanosis.)
3. Fever over 100.4 F or 38 C (in newborns)
If your infant is less than two months and has a rectal temperature greater than 100.4 F, (38C) this could indicate a serious disease or infection. What should you do?
Always take a newborn’s temperature rectally because other ways are not as accurate in newborns. Visit your doctor if your newborn has a fever. A fever is not always serious in older children with more developed immune systems.
4. Worsening jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
If your newborn is getting yellower and yellower after birth, he or she may have worsening jaundice. Not all jaundice is dangerous. Some is normal and will go away on its own, but if it is increasing as opposed to going away, and if baby is very sleepy and difficult to feed it may need evaluation.
Bilirubin is a by-product of the normal breakdown of red blood cells. This is then processed by the liver, however in new-borns the liver is not yet functioning 100%. If bilirubin levels skyrocket, they can affect the brain, causing seizures and permanent damage. What should you do?
Most doctors will recommend feeding your infant more frequently, so that the baby gets rid of excess bilirubin in his or her stool.
The next step is to place the baby under ultraviolet (UV) lights (phototherapy) to increase the breakdown of bilirubin.
5. Dehydration
If your baby is not making wet diapers, we worry about dehydration. We like to see one diaper for every day old up to six days of age, and then six wet diapers a day going forward. That at least means two diapers for two day-olds, three diapers for three-day-olds, and so on. Others signs of severe dehydration may include dry mouth, sunken eyes, and lethargy. What should you do?
Call your pediatrician for advice ASAP. Baby may need an infant electrolyte-replacement fluid, such as Pedialyte.
Water is actually not good to give a baby in these situations because it can cause sodium levels to fall, and this can lead to seizures.
6. Throwing up bright green bile
Kids throw up a lot. They throw up from coughing too hard, crying too hard, eating too much, and from the occasional stomach bug.
If they throw up greenish bile, however, it can be serious. Vomit that looks like dark coffee grounds can also be serious.
Green bile can indicate that the intestines are blocked, which needs immediate attention. Vomit that looks like ground coffee grounds may be a sign of internal bleeding. Vomiting after sustaining a head injury will also require evaluation because it is a sign of a concussion.. What should you do?
Head injuries, with our without vomiting, should be evaluated by a doctor. Visit your pediatrician immediately, and follow his or her advice, or go to an emergency room. In general, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. When in doubt, have the condition checked anyways.
Recall of Kids’ Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, Benadryl 43 Liquid Child/Infant Products Recalled by Johnson and Johnson’s McNeil Division May 2, 2010 -- Manufacturing defects have led to the recall of 43 child and infant liquid formulations of Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec, and Benadryl by McNeil, a division of Johnson & Johnson. No injuries or deaths have yet been reported. The voluntary recall follows an April 19 FDA inspection of a McNeil plant in Fort Washington, Pa. that uncovered “manufacturing deficiencies,” the Washington Post reports. The company says the chances of injury from one of the recalled products are “remote.” Yet consumers are warned not to use the recalled products. “Some of the products included in the recall may contain a higher concentration of active ingredient than is specified; others may contain inactive ingredients that may not meet internal testing requirements; and others may contain tiny particles,” a company news release states. If children who have taken the recalled products have unusual symptoms, parents are urged to contact a health care professional. McNeil did not say how many units were being recalled, but the number likely is huge. Recalled products were distributed in the U.S., Canada, Dominican Republic, Dubai (UAE), Fiji, Guam, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, and Kuwait.For a full list of recalled produce go to http://children.webmd.com/news/20100502/recall-of-kids- tylenol-motrin-zyrtec-benadryl?ecd=wnl_nal_050310 (Excerpts Web MD May 2nd 2010)
Kim Patra is a qualified registered nurse and midwife who has been living and working in Bali for almost 20 years. She now runs her own private practice and medical referral service from her Kuta office. Kim is happy to discuss any health concerns with you and she may be contacted via e-mail at info@chcbali.com or Hp. 081 2366 0000.
