One of the first signs of illness in babies is a change in behaviour. Your baby may cry more or have a change in activity
level. Generally, if your baby is active when awake, feeding well, and can be comforted when crying, small differences in
activity level or crying are normal. However, if your baby becomes lethargic or irritable, it may be time to see a doctor.
Lethargy or irritability may be signs that an illness is present.
If your baby is ill, she may have a fever. Fever is usually a sign that your baby’s body is fighting an infection. Bacteria
and viruses usually thrive at a temperature near our normal body temperature. When we have a fever, our body temperature is
elevated, which makes it harder for bacteria and viruses to survive. Fever also activates the immune system and sets the infection-fighting
white blood cells into action.
Respiratory illnesses are common in infancy. In fact, about one-third of all hospitalizations in the first year of life are
due to respiratory problems. Colds, flu, croup, and bronchiolitis are common respiratory illnesses that can occur during the
first 12 months of life, and at any time during childhood. Asthma and pneumonia are serious conditions that can also arise
during this time.
Ear infections are very common in children between the ages of six months and two years, and most children will have at least
one ear infection. A sore throat is a symptom of an illness such as a cold. Gastrointestinal problems can arise from time
to time in infancy, and they are usually caused by a viral infection in the stomach. Other illnesses that may arise in babies
include urinary tract infections, skin conditions, eye problems, meningitis, mumps, or pinworm infestations.
One very important condition that can arise in the first year of life is failure to thrive. Failure to thrive is when a child
does not grow adequately over time. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are required in order to prevent malnutrition and developmental
problems.
Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden and unexpected death of a baby less than one year old, which remains unexplained
after a thorough investigation and autopsy. Although the exact cause of SIDS remains unknown, a number of risk factors have
been identified, such as sleeping on the tummy, second hand smoke, overheating, premature birth, low birth weight, and young
age of the mother.
