Baby and Child – Illnesses and Conditions

 
Having a poorly baby is something that every parent will experience at some time or another. However, the fact that illnesses and conditions are a universal and inevitable part of childhood does not make them any less worrying. The critical thing for parents is to be able to distinguish between irritability, mild illness and the possible signs of a more serious illness.

If in doubt, seek medical help

Most illnesses and health scares will prove to be short-lived. However, if you are ever in any doubt or have any concerns that won’t go away, you should contact your doctor, health visitor or local hospital. Signs of a possible serious infection include:

• Reduced appetite: for example, if your baby is not feeding as normal
• Tired or unresponsive. for example, if your baby does not wake easily or is in any way unresponsive or floppy
• Fever: seek medical help if your baby is younger than 3 months old and has a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher, or is 3 to 6 months old and has a temperature of 39 degrees Celsius or higher
• Unable to keep food down: if your baby is vomiting or has persistent diarrhoea, you should seek medical help

Common illnesses and complications

In most cases, your baby’s discomfort or irritability is likely to be caused by a common illness or condition such as croup or reflux – in some cases it may be caused by a mild infection, in which case you should seek medical help.

Evidence-based resources for parents

My BabyManual’s expert contributors have created a resource of evidence-based articles to help you better understand how to help your baby stay healthy and comfortable during the early months. Begin browsing our library of articles today.