10 most common baby diseases

Due to the sensitivity and fragility of the immune system, the baby is susceptible to several diseases, such as virosis, pneumonia, mumps and chicken pox, for example.

It is normal for parents to be concerned about the health of drinking and often do not know what to do. However, most diseases that can be acquired in childhood can be prevented through vaccination, so it is important to keep your baby's vaccination card up to date.

Some of the main common diseases in the baby and their prevention and treatment measures are:

1. Chickenpox

Chickenpox or chickenpox is a disease that is transmitted by a virus and is highly contagious, especially among children. In babies, chicken pox is easy to identify, as it causes red pellets on the skin that turn into bubbles with liquid, in addition to fever, itching and loss of appetite. These symptoms are very uncomfortable for the child, which makes them cry, uncomfortable and irritable.

How to Treat: Chickenpox is a disease that can be prevented by means of the Tetravalent vaccine, which in addition to protecting against chickenpox, provides protection against measles, mumps and rubella, which are diseases caused by viruses and which can affect babies. Learn more about the viral tetravalent vaccine.

To treat chickenpox, the pediatrician may recommend the application of ointments on the skin like Povidine or povidone-iodine, which relieve itching and help wounds heal faster, since there is no treatment to eliminate the virus from the body. In addition, as chickenpox is highly contagious, it is therefore recommended that the baby does not have contact with other children for 5 to 7 days, which is the period of contagion of the disease. See what other precautions you should take when treating chicken pox in your baby.

2. Measles

Measles usually appears in the baby after 12 months of age, and causes symptoms such as high fever, redness, watery and itchy eyes, blue-white spots inside the mouth and red-purple spots on the skin, which makes the baby cry. restless and without appetite.

How to Treat: When the baby contracts this disease, the pediatrician recommends taking analgesic and antipyretic medicines, which relieve the symptoms of pain, fever and discomfort, as there is no treatment to eliminate the virus from the body.

As with chickenpox, this disease is highly contagious, so it is recommended that the baby does not have contact with other children during recovery. Learn more about treating measles in your baby.

3. Mumps

Mumps, also known as mumps, is another viral disease very common in children. This infectious disease is caught by coughing, sneezing or speaking by infected people and causes an increase in the volume of salivary glands in the neck, pain, fever and malaise in general. These symptoms leave the baby with a swollen, tearful and restless neck area.

How to Treat It: In order to treat mumps, the pediatrician generally recommends taking medicines for pain and inflammation, which relieve pain, fever and discomfort, as there is no treatment to eliminate the mumps virus from the body. In addition, during the recovery of the baby or child it is also recommended to eat a soft, pasty diet and apply warm compresses on the swelling. Understand how Mumps Treatment works.

4. Flu or cold

Due to the immune system, colds and flu are common, especially during the baby's first year of life. You can easily recognize your baby's cold symptoms if he has a stuffy nose, cough, watery eyes, sneezing or even fever.

How to treat: To treat colds and flu, the pediatrician may recommend the use of an antipyretic if there is a fever, however in most cases it is recommended to wait for the baby's immune system to be able to fight the disease.

In addition, there are some precautions that are recommended during recovery, which include controlling fever, taking inhalations to facilitate breathing and eliminating phlegm and maintaining hydration through breastfeeding.

5. Virosis

Viruses also arise due to the child's weakened system, and cause cramps, vomiting and diarrhea, which makes the baby irritable and tearful.

How to treat it: If you see these symptoms in your baby, especially if he vomits frequently and has severe diarrhea, you should take him to the hospital or emergency room right away. One of the main problems of viruses is the risk of dehydration, which is why it is recommended that you breastfeed frequently.

If the baby is already able to eat solid food, he should bet on a light and low-fat diet, which includes easily digestible foods such as rice or puree, for example, maintaining hydration with water and tea.

6. Dermatitis on the skin

Dermatitis on the baby's skin, especially in the diaper area, 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 the baby's diaper regularly and apply cream or ointment against diaper rash with each diaper change. In addition, the use of talc is also contraindicated, as it dries out the skin and favors the appearance of diaper rash.

If the dermatitis does not improve after a few days or if pus blisters or cracks appear, it is recommended to consult a pediatrician as soon as possible so that the appropriate treatment can be started.

7. Ear infection

Otitis can often develop after colds or flu, and it is a baby's ear infection. Generally, when he has otitis, the child has pain in the ear, runny nose or fever and for this reason he cries intensely, becoming restless, irritable and with a lack of appetite. Know the causes and how to treat otitis in the baby.

How to treat: To treat otitis, it is recommended to take the baby to a pediatrician so that he can identify the problem. Treatment usually involves administering drops to the baby's ear that contain antibiotics or corticosteroids. In addition, in certain cases the doctor may also prescribe pain-relieving drugs such as paracetamol for example.

8. Pneumonia

Pneumonia often comes after a cold or flu, and consists of an infection in the lung caused by bacteria or viruses. Generally, when pneumonia occurs, the baby has a persistent cough and phlegm, wheezing when breathing, difficulty breathing and fever above 38ºC, which makes him tearful, 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 needs to be treated with antibiotics if it is caused by bacteria.

In addition, as it is a problem that causes phlegm, it may be recommended that you frequently suck the phlegm from your nose with your own pumps, and that you make 1 or 2 nebulizations with saline, which help expel the phlegm and facilitate breathing.

9. Thrush

The thrush, also known as oral candidiasis, is a common mouth infection in babies, which results from the body's contact with the virus. Small white dots that can form plaques similar to the rest of milk, can appear on the tongue, gums, inside of the cheeks, roof of the mouth or lips, causing discomfort, irritability and crying in the baby.

How to treat: To treat the thrush, the pediatrician generally recommends the local application of antifungals in liquid, cream or gel, as is the case with Nystatin or Miconazole. If the infection reaches the throat and esophagus, there may be severe pain, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the throat and fever, in which case it is necessary to take the baby to a hospital or emergency room, as these are already symptoms of a more serious infection. See How to identify and cure Baby Frog.

10. Pimples

The baby's pimples are called neonatal acne and appear due to the hormonal changes that happen and usually disappear at around 3 months of age.

How to treat: Neonatal Acne usually disappears spontaneously, with no need for specific treatments. However, if you notice that the pimples do not dry out or that they look inflamed you should consult your pediatrician, so that he can indicate a treatment.