This guide deals with the question: how to help my sick child? – Childhood diseases of the baby after birth. “Doctor, please come quickly, my child is sick. I am in the greatest concern and do not know what to do?” Such and similar calls are received by every pediatrician almost every day, and he tries to relieve the mother of her worry as soon as possible. Often, however, some time passes before the doctor can come or the mother is with the child – hours that become an eternity for any worried mother.
Babies’ childhood illnesses should be treated
Knowledge of parents about the most common childhood diseases and the basic care measures in case of illness is necessary, but it does not replace a medical consultation. Most of the time, the concern is quite justified. Sometimes, however, excessive anxiety could be avoided if the mother had some knowledge of childhood illnesses. She would then know when immediate medical help is necessary and would not run the risk of delaying her child’s illness, as unfortunately still happens time and again. An informed mother will also be able to tell the examining physician the history of the disease with the necessary calmness and objectivity, which will make it much easier to identify the cause. This article will therefore begin to teach parents and educators about the most common childhood illnesses and basic care procedures. Of course, this is in no way intended to replace a medical consultation or even to tempt one to seek a cure. It is only meant to be a guide to initial helping measures that can be initiated by the mother before the medical examination and facilitate home care as ordered by the doctor. First of all, it is to talk about the diseases of babies, the newborn children and infants. It would be wrong to assume that such a small child could not become ill. According to experience, a newborn child – it is called such until the umbilical cord residue has fallen off after 10 to 14 days – hardly ever falls ill with infectious diseases, but there are very specific disorders during this period, which are fundamentally different from those in later infancy and childhood due to the age-related constitution of the body. Especially in the first days of life, injuries and internal bleeding due to the birth process, congenital malformations of the heart or digestive organs can cause serious disorders. They require immediate treatment by a doctor, which is generally guaranteed, since more than 90 percent of all births in Germany take place in clinics or maternity homes. But what happens later, when the young mother has left the hospital and takes over the care of her child herself? Despite conscientious care, she will one day discover changes in her child, for example small pimples or spots on the skin that do not seem normal to her. Should she go to the pediatrician right away? This is by no means necessary immediately in all cases, as there are a number of changes that can be considered normal in a newborn child and will subside on their own.
Jaundice in babies, children and infants.
First to be mentioned here is jaundice in babies. It manifests itself in a yellowing of the skin , mucous membranes and the whites of the eyes and is caused by the fact that immediately after birth there is a large number of red blood cells , which was necessary during the development in the womb to transfer oxygen from the mother to the child. Now that the child is breathing on its own, it no longer needs these excess “transport workers.” They are destroyed, and the blood pigment (hemoglobin) released in the process is converted to bile pigment (bilirubin). As a result, it eventually accumulates in the blood in such quantities that yellowing usually appears on the second or third day of life. This is not a disease in the strict sense of the word, although children are sleepier and drink less well during this period. The yellowing usually disappears after one to two weeks. If it lasts longer, there is no cause for concern, provided the child is thriving normally. However, if this is not the case and there is even a fever, there is a serious cause, e.g. a congenital narrowing of the liver. Immediate medical advice is then required.
Swelling and inflammation of the breast in the baby
Another physiological feature in the baby or infant is the swelling of the mammary glands, on which a few drops of a milky fluid are secreted when pressure is applied. It is caused by passing of maternal hormonal substances to the child during pregnancy or with the mother’s milk and appears on the fourth to seventh day after birth. No special treatment is required, as the swelling disappears in the course of two to three weeks. Under no circumstances should an attempt be made, for example, to empty the swollen breasts, as this can cause additional inflammation. To avoid rubbing, it is best to apply some absorbent cotton. In addition to the swelling of the mammary glands, an inflammation of the breast, known as mastitis, can also occur in the baby. It is characterized by redness, swelling and pressure pain and is always accompanied by fever. This can lead to suppuration and the formation of a mammary gland abscess, which is why medical help is necessary. Before this, however, the mother should provide the child with pain relief by means of moist, cool compresses. These compresses are best done with an alcohol–water mixture consisting of one-third alcohol (Optal) and two-thirds boiled, cooled water. Boiled chamomile or boric water solution are also suitable.
Skin lesions and skin diseases in babies
Relatively often in the first days of the baby’s life are also observed changes in the skin, some of which are inflammatory and others non-inflammatory. The non-inflammatory ones are usually also part of the physiological processes and need not be a cause for alarm. For example, a strong reddening of the skin (erythema neonatorum) is usually observed in babies on the first day of life. In the following days and weeks, a rather strong lamellar desquamation (desquamatio neonatorum) sometimes occurs. Small sebaceous gland vesicles, so-called milia, are also frequently noticeable. These small yellowish-white dots dot the tip of the nose and sometimes the entire face, but usually disappear during the first week. On the other hand, acne persists for a longer period of time, sometimes up to several weeks. It manifests itself as dense blackheads (comedones), which, like breast swelling, are caused by hormonal maternal influences and disappear on their own. On the other hand, poorly cared for and incorrectly nourished infants or babies, whose natural resistance is reduced, easily develop purulent skin diseases. Either superficial pyoderma or deeper abscesses form as a result of the colonization of protozoa on the skin and in the sweat glands. Peeling blisters (pemphigoid) are also characteristic of babyhood. These lentil- to penny-sized blisters form easily from the third to the eighth day of life and usually burst. They are also caused by pus bacteria and preferentially localize to the lower abdomen. In addition to the fact that they can easily be transmitted to other infants and babies, there is a great danger with them, as with all purulent skin diseases of the newborn, that pus bacteria will migrate from the skin focus via the bloodstream to other organs, where foci of pus will then also develop again. However, the occurrence of such blood poisoning (sepsis) can be avoided if the mother immediately consults a doctor as soon as she discovers any purulent skin lesions on her child. Careful daily examination of the child’s entire body is therefore necessary. In most cases, medications that destroy the pus bacteria, so-called antibiotics, and additional baths with potassium manganate can bring about a surprisingly rapid healing of all the above-mentioned purulent skin diseases. The prerequisite for this, however, is that the antibiotics are administered conscientiously and regularly according to the doctor’s instructions. If this is done by mouth, it should be noted that the drugs must not be dissolved in all the bottle food. Often they taste bitter, and the child then refuses the food. In addition, some of the active substances often stick to the wall of the bottle. It is therefore best to dissolve bad-tasting substances in some tea sweetened with sweetener and give them to the child with a spoon, pushing it as far as possible into the mouth while applying light pressure to the back of the tongue and only taking it out again after swallowing.After that, you can drink sweetened tea or breast milk. Potassium baths are best performed as follows: One does not add the crystals of potassium permanganate, which has an anti-bacterial effect, directly to the bath water, but prepares a concentrated solution beforehand, about one teaspoon of crystals to 100 cubic centimeters of water. It is then added to the bath until the water takes on a wine-red color. For drying, it is advisable to use an old clean cloth, since the potassium permanganate leaves brown stains. The brown coloration of the tub can be easily removed with hydrogen peroxide solution and vinegar.
Diseases of the umbilical cord and navel in the baby.
The umbilicus is also of special importance during babyhood. There at this time is the most vulnerable place of the small child, and after the umbilical nest falls off, various kinds of disorders can occur. Oozing of the navel is observed particularly frequently. At the same time, on close inspection, after the umbilical folds have been pulled apart, it is not uncommon to find a small red lump consisting of “wild flesh”. This is an increased formation of granulation tissue, which is why this change is also called umbilical granuloma. This excess tissue can be removed in a short time by daily cauterization with a hellstone pen. It should be noted, however, that the moistened pen should only touch the growth and not the intact skin folds, otherwise etching spots will form there. To prevent this, it is recommended to cover the area around the navel well with zinc ointment beforehand. Bathing is allowed despite the granuloma. If pus bacteria settle in the base of the navel, an umbilical ulcer may develop, which is usually covered with a purulent, slimy layer. The umbilical ring and the entire surrounding area are often involved in the inflammation and are severely reddened and swollen. The baby’s general condition is also more or less disturbed. The child no longer drinks properly, vomits intermittently and consequently loses weight. As a rule, there is also fever. Since such an umbilical inflammation can develop into peritonitis or even general sepsis, the child’s life is seriously threatened by it and the doctor’s advice must be sought without fail. However, these inflammations are not always immediately visible, but sometimes remain covered by the umbilical folds. Therefore, it is urgent to look closely at the base of the umbilical cord every day after it has fallen off. With the help of modern medicine, severe complications can usually be averted if umbilical cord diseases are detected in time. In this context, it is necessary to say a few words about how to prevent umbilical infections. The umbilical cord residue must be treated in such a way as to promote its rapid drying. Thus, it must not be softened by moisture, which is why bathing must be refrained from during this period. Drying powder, preferably with sulfonamide or antibiotic additives, is used to promote drying and prevent bacterial colonization as far as possible. Scrupulous cleanliness is paramount, especially when caring for the umbilical wound that remains after the umbilical cord has fallen off. The umbilical bandage must be made of germ-free, dry dressing material and must only be applied with well-washed hands. Once the umbilical wound has healed, the umbilical bandage is let away and the child can be bathed daily. A number of non-inflammatory disorders can also occur at the umbilicus. The most common is the umbilical hernia. It occurs as a result of a congenital dilatation of the umbilical ring and is manifested by a protrusion at the umbilicus, which becomes more apparent when the baby cries and pushes, as the abdominal contents advance into the hernia during this process. However, entrapment is extremely rare. The umbilical hernia does not need to be treated surgically in every case, as is often assumed. In most cases, plaster bandages are sufficient to achieve a regression of the hernia. Only if this is not yet visible at the end of the first year of life must surgical removal be considered for the baby. A child with an umbilical hernia can be bathed despite the plaster bandage, which must be renewed every two weeks.
