Apathy means apathy, unresponsiveness and a lack of reaction to external stimuli such as being spoken to, picked up or touched. In a narrower sense, apathy is a disturbance of the state of alertness. It affects the central nervous system and is a very serious and dangerous symptom in babies. If you notice or suspect apathy in your baby, you should therefore consult a doctor.
Especially in infants who are not yet able to articulate themselves, apathy (as well as restlessness and difficulty drinking) may be the initial symptoms of a serious infectious disease, poisoning or metabolic disorder. Fever does not necessarily occur in infant illnesses, not even in severe infections.
What are signs of apathy?
If you want to know whether your baby is really unconscious and apathetic or just tired, look out for the following:
- Does the baby really wake up when you pick him up?
- Does it grasp firmly and pull itself up when you reach out?
- Does it make eye contact and smile?
- Is it drinking (very important)?
- Does it have longer periods of wakefulness (i.e. does it not immediately become sleepy again when you put it down)?
What can I do about apathy?
Also listen to your feelings: if you notice that your lively and active baby is “somehow different”, namely listless and apathetic, you should definitely keep an eye on him or her and, if in doubt, always consult a doctor (even if it’s for nothing).
Please also bear in mind that the younger an infant is, the less characteristic general infections, poisoning or other illnesses can be. Clouding of consciousness is then a late symptom!
