Because the immune system is still developing, children are more likely to develop diseases, especially those caused by viruses, because transmission is easier, such as chickenpox, measles and influenza.
However, the most common childhood diseases can be prevented by vaccination, where some vaccines must be given within a few days of birth and others must be strengthened throughout life to ensure protection. Check your baby’s vaccination schedule.
Some of the main common diseases in infants and their prevention and treatment measures are:
Chickenpox or chickenpox is a highly contagious viral transmission disease, especially in children. In infants, chickenpox is easy to identify because there are red granules on the skin that turn into liquid bubbles, as well as fever, itching and loss of appetite. These symptoms are very uncomfortable for the child, making him cry, uncomfortable and restless.
How to treat chickenpox, the pediatrician may recommend applying ointments to the skin as a calamine lotion, which relieves itching and helps wounds heal faster, as there is no treatment to remove the virus from the body. In addition, chickenpox is highly contagious, so it is recommended that the baby do not come into contact with other children for 5 to 7 days, when the disease spreads. See more details on chickenpox treatment.
Chickenpox is a disease that can be prevented with the chickenpox vaccine, the first dose of which is 12 months, or with the tetravalent vaccine, which also protects against measles, mumps and rubella.
Mumps, also known as mumps, is another viral disease very common in children. This infectious disease is transmitted by coughing, sneezing or talking to infected people and causes an increase in the volume of salivary glands in the neck area, pain, fever and discomfort in general.
As a treat for mumps, the pediatrician generally recommends using medications to relieve your baby’s symptoms and decrease inflammation of the salivary gland. In addition, soft and pasty foods and hot compresses are recommended on the swelling, helping to relieve discomfort. Understand how mumps treatment is performed.
Colds and flu are common, especially during the baby’s first year of life, because the immune system is still developing. Some of the most common signs and symptoms in babies with the flu or cold are nasal congestion, cough, watery eyes, sneezing or even fever.
How to treat colds and flu, the pediatrician may recommend the use of an antipyretic in case of fever, but in most cases it is recommended to wait until the baby’s immune system can fight the disease.
In addition, certain precautions are recommended during recovery, including fever control, inhalation to facilitate breathing and mucus removal, and maintenance of hydration during lactation.
Bowel viruses also occur due to weakening of the child’s system and cause cramps, vomiting and diarrhea, making the baby irritable and watery.
How to treat it: If you see these symptoms in your baby, especially if he or she vomits frequently and has severe diarrhea, you should take him to the hospital or emergency room right away to avoid dehydration. Thus, it is indicated that the baby is breastfed frequently or, if he or she can already eat solid foods, has a lighter, low-fat, easy-to-digest diet, such as rice or mashed potatoes, as well as maintaining hydration with water. .
Dermatitis on the baby’s skin, especially in the diaper, is common and causes symptoms such as irritation, redness, blisters or cracks in the skin.
How to treat: To treat dermatitis, it is recommended to change your baby’s diaper regularly and apply a diaper rash or cream with each diaper change. In addition, the use of talc is also contrast, as it dries the skin and promotes the appearance of diaper rash.
If dermatitis does not improve after a few days or if blisters or pus cracks occur, it is recommended to consult a pediatrician as soon as possible so that appropriate treatment can be initiated.
Otitis can often occur after a cold or flu and is an infection of the baby’s ear. Usually, when the child has ear infection, ear pain, nasal discharge or fever, and for this reason he cries intensely, becoming restless, irritable and without appetite. Learn about the causes and how to treat otitis in infants.
How to treat otitis, it is recommended to take the baby to a pediatrician so that he or she can identify the problem. Treatment usually involves administering drops to your baby’s ears that contain antibiotics or corticosteroids. In addition, in some cases, your doctor may also prescribe pain relievers such as acetaminophen, for example, or antibiotics to take.
Pneumonia often occurs after a cold or flu and is a lung infection caused by bacteria or viruses. Generally, when the baby has pneumonia, he or she has persistent cough and mucus, wheezing, shortness of breath, and a fever above 38 degrees Celsius, making him aqueous, restless, and irritated.
How to treat: In the presence of symptoms suggestive of pneumonia, it is important to immediately take the baby to the nearest hospital or emergency room so that treatment can begin as soon as possible. Pneumonia is a serious infection that should be treated with antibiotics if it is caused by bacteria.
Thrush, also known as oral thrush, is a common oral infection in infants, resulting from reduced immunity from infants that promotes fungal growth. Small white spots that can form patches similar to the rest of the milk can appear on the tongue, gums, inside of the cheeks, palate or lips, causing discomfort, irritability and crying in the baby.
As a treat for thrush, the pediatrician generally recommends the local application of antifungals in liquid, cream or gel, such as nistatin or miconazole. Learn how to identify and heal the baby frog.
Your baby’s pimples are called neonatal acne and appear due to hormonal changes that occur and usually disappear around 3 months of age.
How to treat: Neonatal acne usually goes away spontaneously, without specific treatment. However, if you notice that the grains don’t dry out or appear inflamed, you should consult your pediatrician for treatment information.