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Kids' Health
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Illness can be very dangerous for children in the first year of life and nothing concerns parents more than the health of their child. Over the past 50 years, advances in nutrition, microbiology and sanitation have contributed to a decline in some childhood diseases. Immunizations have conquered whooping cough (pertussis vaccine), the most common form of meningitis (HIB), and some of the most serious strains of the pneumococcal bacteria that cause pneumonia, meningitis and ear infections (Prevnar). Even with all of the precautions, it is inevitable that an infant will develop some illness in the first year of life. Here are a few of the most common illnesses that are specific to the infant less than 1 year of age. The typical cold Scientists have been looking for a cure for the common cold for decades. While some promising studies have touted the benefits of Vitamin C and Zink, no single treatment has proved effective. The common cold often begins with fever, nasal congestion and cough. These symptoms usually peak at about 3-5 days and may make your child uncomfortable and irritable. Infants with stuffy noses may have difficulty feeding, only making the child more frustrated AND hungry. One of the best remedies during this phase is saltwater nose drops and a bulb syringe, not too aggressively used, before a feeding. Clearing the nasal passages will make it easier for the child to feed. Most symptoms start to get better by 5-7 days and then are nearly resolved by 10 days. If your child has a fever in the first few days, acetaminophen can be used, although this and other medications are not necessary for recovery. However, if fever persists, evaluation by a physician would be best. Bronchiolitis Bronchiolitis is a potentially more serious illness that usually occurs in the winter season. Your child will usually have a cough and wheezing with increased mucous production in his lung. The usual cause is a virus called Respiratory Syncitial Virus, often just called RSV. Although RSV is the most common cause, other viruses can cause the illness. Infants who are at risk are the very young as well as premature infants who may have needed some help breathing or admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. The illness can be mild or can cause decreased oxygen to be transferred in the lung, requiring hospitalization. Breathing treatments are often prescribed to help keep the airways open. The illness usually lasts about two weeks and recovery is usually complete. Some people believe that bronchiolitis is associated with asthma later in life, although this discussion has been going on for years. Gastroesophageal Reflux Infants can be irritable for a variety of reasons and gastroesophageal reflux has been recognized as one of the most common. All infants spit up. It is a matter of degree. When does normal spitting up become abnormal gastroesophageal reflux? When do you need to take some action? Usually reflux has very little to do with what you are feeding your infant. Reflux is secondary to immaturity of the mechanism that keeps food in the stomach. A parent needs to be concerned if the spitting up causes poor weight gain, any respiratory distress or pneumonia or excessive irritability most likely secondary to heartburn. Since most children outgrow reflux as they mature, helping relieve the symptoms is the best treatment. Decreasing acidity is the most common form of treatment with occasional use of antacids or medications to decrease acid production in the stomach. It is often difficult to tell the difference between reflux and colic and, in fact, they can exist concurrently. Therefore, in addition to medications, calming techniques may help. To prevent many illnesses, there are simple measures that a parent can take. The age-old concept of hand washing can avoid illness. Newer hand products that kill viruses and bacteria on your hands are helpful. Don’t be afraid to ask visitors, family and friends to wash their hands and use an antibacterial gel before holding or touching your infant. A little prevention can go a long way in making your child’s first year as illness-free as possible.m Dr. Clyde Wesp is a pediatrician with Southern Orange County Pediatric Associates with offices in Lake Forest, Laguna Hills, Rancho Santa Margarita, Ladera Ranch and San Clemente (Talega) and is affiliated with Saddleback Memorial Medical Center, Mission Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Orange County. He is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Memorial Care Physician Society. If you have any questions or comments for Dr. Wesp you can email him at askdrwesp@netscape.net. |
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