The major causes of death among children vary depending on their age. Those who are under five years of age are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases like pneumonia, malaria, HIV, diarrhea, and tuberculosis. This is especially true for babies under the age of one. Newborns and children one-year-old and below are at higher risk of infections.
Infections may be present at any time during the first month of life. Carefully watch for signs of illnesses that your baby may have especially during the first 7 days of life. You can do this by watching their feeding patterns. Feeding is one of the most reliable measures of a newborn’s well-being. They are like eating machines at that age. And if your baby is not feeding well or has an abrupt change in his feeding pattern, call your baby’s doctor immediately.
Children are prone to infections at an early age of life. Here is the list of the most common and top illnesses that your child may acquire at one year old and below:
- Common Cold
Is your child having a runny nose and watery eyes, or constantly sneezing or coughing? He could be having signs of a common cold. Colds very are common among infants and toddlers. If your child’s body temperature feels hot, he could be running a fever as well. Other symptoms include cough or a combination of cough and colds.
Cough and colds are respiratory illnesses that can be prevented by prior vaccinations given to the child at his early age. For more information about the causes and available vaccinations for common colds, contact an online doctor Canada.
If your child is showing signs of common flu, make sure to keep him hydrated with fluids like water and other low-sugar juices. They must also be kept away from crowded places, sick individuals and other children. If your child does not get better after a few days, bring him to the doctor or contact an online physician through online doctor Canada as soon as possible
- Stomach Flu
Are your infant’s stool smelly and watery, or seems nauseous and vomiting? He could be having an infection in the gut, or the stomach flu, also known as gastroenteritis.
As mentioned above, the symptoms of gastroenteritis include vomiting, smelly or watery stool, and nausea. Other symptoms include having muscle aches, slight fever, and abdominal pain.
If symptoms persist, bring the child to the nearest hospital for a proper medical examination and treatment.
- Bronchitis and Bronchiolitis
The symptoms of bronchitis include constant wheezing or making high-pitched whistling sounds when breathing. If he is having trouble breathing, his airways may be infected.
To treat bronchitis, keep your child hydrated. Avoid smoky places or areas where people are smoking cigarettes, as these can worsen your child’s condition. If the symptoms persist, bring your child to a doctor or contact an online doctor.
- Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD)
Rashes, blisters on the palms or buttocks, painful mouth ulcers, fever, and sore throat are the common symptoms of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD).
If your child is exhibiting these symptoms, keep your infant at home so that the infection won’t spread to other children. Give your child plenty of water for them to stay hydrated. Give him or her a soft diet as mouth ulcers can be very painful. Disinfect all the toys and objects that he or she usually uses and plays with or comes in contact with. Bring your child to the doctor immediately if you are suspecting their symptoms as HFMD.
5. Chickenpox
If your child is exhibiting a fever with itchy and red spots on their body and face, he or she could be having chickenpox. Chickenpox rash is contagious and can easily spread through direct contact or droplets in the air from an infected person. They may appear for a few days, eventually becoming blisters that may leave scars if the scratched areas are infected.
To relieve the itch, give your child cool baths and trim his or her fingernails or let him or her wear gloves to prevent scratching his or her skin. Contact a doctor immediately or go to a physician to assist you on what to do especially when the rash spreads to the eye or gets very red or tender. The young one may also experience severe reactions like vomiting, rapid heartbeat, short breaths, tremors, stiff neck, or a high fever.
6. Constipation
If your child is not pooping as often as he usually does, then he may be having constipation. Other symptoms include discomfort, crankiness, and a hard abdomen. This usually happens to babies on formula milk, but rarely happens to breastfed babies as breast milk can be easily digested.As infants under one-year-old are prone to a lot of diseases and illnesses, it is important to complete their vaccinations to protect them from deadly and high-risk diseases. If you have more questions, you can contact an online doctor Canada to help you with your inquiries about other diseases and illnesses that may endanger your child.
