Every parent is always trying to keep her baby to be healthy, but sometimes the condition of fever and infection can not be avoided. No need to panic when your baby is sick, sick babies need to understand when sent to the doctor.
When the baby cries, even parents who have much experience was still difficult to distinguish normal fussiness or crying because of illness. This is the time to contact your doctor to find out whether the baby requires emergency handling procedures or not, as quoted by MayoClinic, Wednesday (03/08/2011).
If it leads to symptoms of serious disease that requires treatment, at least not too late to get treatment from a doctor. Signs and symptoms that need attention in infants, among others:
1. Decreased appetite
If the baby has decreased appetite for several days and getting worse, then see your doctor.
2. Mood swings
If the baby is flagging, for several days and getting worse, then see your doctor.
3. Redness at the navel and the pubic area
If the navel and the pubic area or even baby pink or bloody discharge, consult a physician.
4. Fever
Mild fever in infants is common and usually harmless, but you should keep the baby's body temperature is monitored. If your baby is younger than age 3 months, contact your doctor for any fever. If your baby is 3 months of age or older and have lower oral temperature of 102 F (38.9 C), conditioning your baby to lots of rest and lots of fluid intake.
Call your doctor if your baby seems very irritable, lethargic or uncomfortable. If your baby has oral temperature of 102 F (38.9 C) or higher, give your baby acetaminophen (Tylenol or other). Call your doctor if the fever does not go down or lasts longer than one day.
5. Diarrhea
If the stool (feces) baby is very thin or watery, then see your doctor.
6. Gag
Occasional vomiting was normal, but if the baby spit up most of the foods and drinks or vomit a lot after feeding, immediately see your doctor.
7. Dehydration
If the baby does not wet the bed for 6 hours or crying without tears and dry conditions of the oral cavity (such as no drinking water), see your doctor immediately.
8. Constipation
If your baby's bowel movements less than usual for several days, then consult a physician.
9. Cold
If the baby is cold to interfere with breathing and lasted more than two weeks, or accompanied by a severe cough, then consult a physician.
10. Ear problems
If the baby does not have a normal response to sound or have the liquid flowing from his ears, see your doctor immediately.
11. Rash
If the rash covers a large area, especially if the rash is accompanied by fever, then see your doctor immediately.
12. Out mucus from the eyes
If one or both eyes reddish and slimy, see your doctor immediately.
It never hurts to always carry your baby to a doctor's check ups, the time of check-up will at least know the health conditions of infants and when there are abnormalities will be addressed as early as possible.
