When your baby is unwell, it can be quite a heart-racing time for you, particularly if you’re a first-time parent. Needless to say, your baby will be uncomfortable and irritable, and this will be reflected in his behaviour – fussing, crying, rubbing his face, etc.
While the most instinctive thing to do is to bring your baby to the doctor, you will, inevitably, have to take steps to keep him comfortable while he recovers.
It is only in rare cases that a baby or child’s fever, cough, or runny nose turns out to be indications of a serious illness, and this is usually when and if certain symptoms persist regardless of treatment and care. Most of the time, a little one’s a flu, fever or viral infection is fully treatable, with the help of a doctor and some loving home care. Here are some things every new parent should know about caring for their sick child.
Fevers: Every child will set them
Firstly, you’ll have to realise that in any human regardless of age, fever is not a sickness on its own, but an indication of one. For babies, the most common cause of fevers is the cold or a viral infection. It can be quite stressful for first-time parents to have to deal with baby fever, but panicking isn’t going to help, so parents, do take note.
Fever is part of the body’s natural defence against bacteria and viruses, whereby elevated body temperatures are said to help the body fight infections more effectively. Additionally, fevers tell the body to make more white blood cells and antibodies to fight infections. Although fevers normally indicate common illnesses and infections, other causes of infant fevers could also be vaccination reactions and overheating from clothing that is too warm or being under the sun for too long.
Taking your child’s temperature
The most common fever sign would be a warm forehead, although some babies and young children may have a fever without this sign. However, fevers are generally uncomfortable to endure, especially in babies, so chances are your child will seem crankier than usual, and will show other related symptoms which include – difficulty in sleeping, decreased appetite, and can’t be soothed or calmed down easily.
The best way to determine if your little one has a fever is by taking his temperature. There are a few ways to do this, but experts advise that taking an infant’s temperature via a rectal thermometer will provide the most accurate result, where else temporal, ear or underarm thermometers should be used for older children only. Use only digital thermometers though, for mercury thermometers could pose poisoning risks if they break.
Rare yet not to be ruled out too quickly
There are rare instances where an infant’s fever, especially a persistent one, is found to point out having contracted something serious such as pneumonia, a urinary tract infection, ear infections, or meningitis.
Treating your child’s fever
There are ways to safely care for your sick child at home, but if you are concerned, speak to your doctor first for advice and assurance. In the meantime, try these useful tips:
- Give your child a quick, warm bath – always check the temperature of the water beforehand
- Dress your child in light, soft clothing.
- Color therapy tip: Avoid dressing your sick baby in bright colours such as red, orange, yellow, etc. Go instead for paler, softer shades like pastels, for instance.
- Always keep your child hydrated with fluids such as breast milk, formula, electrolyte solutions, and water – depending on your child’s age.
- Give your child only medicines that have been approved by your doctor, and always follow the recommended dosage
When to see a doctor
Although your care and judgement counts, do not disregard your intuition to call or visit a doctor if you are worried. A visit to your doctor is especially necessary for the following:
- For babies one-month-old or younger- If your infant has a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher, visit a doctor immediately. A baby this young needs to be checked for serious infections or diseases
- For babies three-months-old or older – call your doctor if a fever persists for more than 24 hours. Additionally, visit your doctor immediately if your child’s fever reaches 40 degrees Celsius, regardless of symptoms. On the other hand, if your child has normal fever temperatures but appears well and can take fluids, there is no need to worry.
- Parents should contact their doctor if babies are three to six-months-old with a fever of 38.3 degrees Celsius or over with symptoms such as appetite loss, coughs, earaches, vomiting, diarrhoea, and unusual fussiness and lethargy.
- Call your doctor if your baby is pale or flushed, has fewer wet diapers, or has unexplained rashes.
- Visit your doctor immediately if your child has difficulty breathing even after you have cleared his or her nose.
Note: Although high temperatures indicate a fever, lower than normal temperatures could also indicate illnesses. Very young babies can sometimes become cold rather than warm when they are sick.
Persistent and recurring fevers
Some infections such as influenza (the flu) can last up to seven days. Fever-reducing medicines bring down temperatures but do not treat the infection, so fevers may continue till the body is clear of infection. If your child is being treated with antibiotics, it may take at least 48 hours for the fever to reduce.
However, some fevers are not accompanied by coughs, vomiting, or diarrhoea. One example is roseola – a three-day fever followed by a light pink rash, meningitis, urinary tract infections, or bacteremia – bacteria in the bloodstream. Hence, if your child’s fever persists, call your doctor.
Influenza – The Flu
Influenza or commonly known as “the flu”, is a highly contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and lungs. Although it affects all age groups, it is especially prevalent in children. Even though it’s normally confused with the common cold, it is more severe than a typical sneezing and stuffy nose situation. Symptoms of influenza can include –
- Fevers
- Chills
- Appetite loss
- Coughs
- Sore throat
- Stuffy nose
- Vomiting
- Ear aches
- Diarrhoea
Babies and children who have the flu are understandably cranky and will be fussier than usual. Most infections usually disappear after five days with related symptoms such as coughs and weakness lingering for another week or so. While a child’s flu will go away eventually, it still needs to be taken seriously without proper care, it could lead to pneumonia or other threatening complications along with long-term health issues.
Causes For The Infection And Treatment
The flu can be contracted by virus-infected droplets that are sneezed or coughed into the air. People who are infected can be contagious from a day before they fall sick till the day their symptoms have ended. Due to the fact that the infection spreads when people are in close contact, it travels easily through schools, nurseries, playgroups, and families. This is the main reason why your child should be at home, other than the fact that he should also be getting plenty of rest.
If your little one is irritable and uncomfortable, ask your doctor for safe painkillers. There is no need for antibiotics because it is only effective against bacteria, and not viruses – meaning that antibiotics will not do a thing. On the other hand, antibiotics may be necessary if your child develops a secondary infection, such as pneumonia, an ear infection, or bronchitis.
The Importance of the Flu Vaccine
The influenza vaccine is an injection given to prevent the infection and it begins to protect your child two weeks after he or she receives it. This vaccine is offered annually and children should undergo the vaccination as soon as it is available. Some children between six months to eight-years-old may need two doses to be fully protected. These two vaccines will be given four or more weeks apart and the same vaccine type is recommended.
Although the infection especially affects children, infants younger than six months should not be vaccinated the treatment because they are too young. However, infants can be protected if their mothers were vaccinated during pregnancy. Note: The influenza vaccinations will not be given if your child is allergic to chicken or egg products, has a fever, allergic to mercury, or is diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome within six weeks of getting the first flu vaccine in the past.
Vaccine Risks
There are a few side-effects correlated with this vaccination. Although most are nothing to worry about, call your doctor if the following is observed:
- Pain, redness, and swelling around the area of vaccination.
- Mild symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle aches.
- Your child still contracts the influenza infection
- Allergic reactions such as the red and swollen face, hives, dizziness, swollen throat or mouth, wheezing, chest pains, feeling faint
The Common Cold
The common cold is a viral infection of a child’s nose and throat and babies are especially susceptible to this illness. A cold is caused by many different viruses, which spread when people who have cold sneeze or cough into the air, spreading viruses to others.
As uncomfortable as nasal congestion and a runny nose can be, parents have to understand that babies can have up to seven colds within the first year of life – normally because they have not yet built the proper immunity against it. Remember too that it’s called the common cold for a reason and it’s because it’s not a serious illness. If your baby or child has a common cold, you may notice the following symptoms: fever, cough, red eyes, loss of appetite, sore throat, irritability and restlessness, stuffy nose, and sleeplessness.
Treating a Cold
Your child’s cold will normally go away on its own, but there are a few ways to help him feel more comfortable as he heals and recovers. Try these:
- Make sure he gets plenty of rest.
- Ensure he stays well-hydrated. If your child is formula-fed or on solids, ensure he gets enough water intake
- If your child can’t blow his nose, you’ll have to take appropriate steps to ensure help that his nose is cleared of mucus to ease his breathing.
- A baby nasal aspirator or nasal saline drops will come in handy during these times. You can also rub a little bit of petroleum jelly on the outside of the nose to reduce irritation.
- A vapour rub may help your child breathe more easily. Apply it on your child’s chest and back, but refrain from putting it on his nostrils.
- Breathing in steam can also help loosen blocked airways and relieve that cough. Try sitting in a steamy bathroom for a few minutes while holding your child.
- Infant paracetamol can help relieve fevers. Infant paracetamol is safe for a two-month-old if your child was born after 37 weeks weighs more than four kilograms. In any case, do consult with your doctor if you are concerned about this.
What Every Parent Should Know
You can best prevent colds by breastfeeding. Nursing passes your antibodies and infection-fighting chemicals to your baby which helps build immunity. You can also protect your baby by keeping him or her away from anyone with a cough or cold or request that they wash their hands before holding your baby.
When to see a doctor
Your baby’s immune system will need time to mature. If he has a cold with no related complications, it should completely resolve within two weeks or less. If he is younger than two or three months, call the doctor early in the illness because common colds can develop into secondary problems such as croup or pneumonia. You should also visit a doctor if your child:
- has a temperature which is above 38 degrees Celsius
- is dehydrated
- has yellow or greenish eye discharge
- has thick and green nasal discharge for several days
- is unusually irritable
- has a persistent cough and breathing issues
- refuses to accept fluids
- coughs hard enough to induce vomiting
- coughs blood-tinged sputum
- is bluish around the lips and mouth.
Dealing with coughs
While coughs are normally a symptom of the common cold, they may turn out to be something known as whooping cough, which is a bacterial infection of the windpipe and airways which can be treated with vaccination, or, bronchiolitis, which is a viral infection of the lungs. A cough may also have a non-infectious cause, such as asthma.
If coughs are dry, this is normally a symptom of an itchy throat. If coughs are chesty, it’s usually related to phlegm.
How To Care For Your Baby’s Cough
Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are not suitable for babies and should not be given to a child under six-years-old. You can help your child by treating him or her the same way you would treat the common cold. If your child is over a year-old, you may also offer a warm drink of honey with some lemon for a boost of Vitamin C. A note of caution: Children under the age of one year should not be given honey.
When to see a doctor
In regards to coughing, visit your medical provider if coughs do not ease after five days or if it seems to get worse. Additionally, take your child to his or her paediatrician if he or she has trouble sleeping or is coughing up green, brown, or yellow mucus.
Caring for a sick child is not something new, and parents have been doing this for as long as history can remind us. The important thing to keep in mind is, a calm parent will be able to make better decisions than a panicky one, so keep calm and care for your little one!
