Baby illness/symptoms

Our handy reference table for common childhood illnesses will help you work out your best course of action when your child is unwell:

Illness	Symptoms
Bronchiolitis Usually affects babies in their first 12 months Viral respiratory infection Passes via coughing, sneezing and direct contact	Runny nose, sneezing and fever Cough develops over a couple of days Wheeze on outward breath Difficulty breathing – laboured breath with chest rising more than normal
Chicken Pox (Varicella-zoster virus) Highly contagious Spread through direct contact with person or lesion or droplets from coughing or sneezing Contagious period from 1-2 days before the rash develops until all blisters have formed a dry scab Incubation period is 7-21 days after exposure Avoid contact with pregnant women	Fever, sore throat and headache An itchy skin rash over the whole body Rash-small blisters surrounded by pink areas Blisters will gradually burst and form a scab (about 5 days after appearing) Blisters may appear in the mouth
Common Cold Upper Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI), usually caused by a virus Sneezing & coughing Spreads through direct contact Contagious until symptoms clear	Any or all of: Blocked or runny nose Sneezing Sore throat Cough Headache Fever
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) Inflammation of the membranes in the eye Caused by a viral or bacterial infection Highly contagious and can be passed via hand to eye contact or via cloth to cloth Incubation period is a few days up to a week	Discharge from the eye, white or yellow in colour Eyes may be stuck together after sleeping Eyes may be itchy and irritable Eyes may appear bloodshot
Constipation Breastfed babies rarely become constipated- it is not unusual to have 7 days between bowel motions More likely to occur in bottle-fed babies Older children can be constipated after the introduction of new foods as their bodies adapt to it	Infrequent stools Difficulty passing stool Hard pellet-like stools Pain on passing a stool and occasional bleeding from the rectum
Cough Usually part of, or follows on from, an URTI Contagious until symptoms clear	The cough may be dry or produce mucous Similar to a cold Look for signs of whooping cough, croup, bronchiolitis or pneumonia
Cradle Cap An oily secretion from the scalp	Yellow crust or scale on scalp Usually doesn’t cause discomfort to baby
Croup A viral illness causing acute inflammation of the upper respiratory tract Commonly affects young children and babies Involves airways becoming swollen and narrow Passed via coughing and sneezing Symptoms peak on 2nd or 3rd day	General cold symptoms at first Barking cough (sounds like a seal) Hoarse voice Breathing is noisy Symptoms are usually worse at night Severe symptoms are unusual and include: Difficulty breathing High fever and drooling
Dehydration Can occur very quickly in babies as a result of repeated vomiting, diarrhoea, heat stroke or heat exhaustion	Listless and apathetic Eyes and fontanelle will appear sunken Few or no tears when they cry Fewer wet diaperss Skin will remain gathered after being pinched Dry mouth with increased thirst
Diarrhoea A viral or bacterial infection that can be passed via hand to hand contact	Cramps and abdominal pain Loose and explosive bowel motions Frequent watery motions May be discoloured Possible dehydration
Ear infection Usually a viral infection with occasional secondary bacterial infection Often follows a cold (URTI) Inflammation of the lining of the middle ear	Ear pain Fever Irritability Loss of appetite
Febrile Seizure These occur in a small percentage of babies and can be brought on by a sudden rise in temperature Most febrile seizures occur between the ages of 6 and 36 months	Loss of consciousness or awareness Body becomes stiff or floppy Body begins to twitch or jerk Your child may be disoriented or drowsy after the fit has finished
Fever May be caused by a viral or bacterial infection Young babies can have a fever from being overheated Occasionally follows routine immunisations	Your baby is considered to have a fever when the temperature rises above 37.5°C High temperature is considered to be over 39°C Baby may feel hot to touch Baby may shiver and look red or flushed Rapid rise in temperature or prolonged high fever may cause a febrile convulsion
Flu (Influenza) A viral infection spread by: Sneezing and coughing from an infected person Direct contact with an infected person Symptoms develop 1-4 days following exposure and may last for 7-10 days Contagious for up to 5-7 days after symptoms appear	Symptoms may include: High Fever Chills and sweating Headache and sore throat Weak and tired Muscle and joint pain Loss of appetite Cough
Gastroenteritis This can be a viral or bacterial infection Can be a serious disease in young babies due to dehydration	Vomiting and diarrhoea Abdominal pain and cramps Fever Can result in dehydration May have blood in the stool
Impetigo (School sores) A bacterial skin infection Highly contagious via direct contact until sores have dried completely (around 3-5 days) Bacteria usually enters the skin via a cut, insect bite or other sore	Begins as small blisters These burst and form a crust
Meningococcal Meningitis Highly contagious Acute bacterial infection Life threatening Inflammation of the spinal cord and brain Followed by septicaemia (blood poisoning) Passed by coughing, sneezing, kissing, and sharing drinks and food	Not all of these symptoms may be present: Severe headache Fever (may not respond to Paracetamol) High-pitched cry Fatigue, drowsy, lethargic Stiff or painful neck Sensitivity to light Fontanelle bulges Convulsions More serious symptoms: Vomiting Cold hands and feet Cold shivers Severe aches or pain in the muscles, joints, chest or abdomen Rapid breathing Diarrhoea At later stages, a pinprick or purple bruise-like rash
Molluscum contagiosum A viral infection Highly contagious via contact with infected person or contaminated objects Scratching or rubbing spreads the virus to the nearby skin	Small raised spots Typically have a small indentation at the top Spots will usually last for about 6-12 months
Non-Specific Viral Rash Caused by a viral infection	Appears as a red rash across the body Usually lasts only a few days May be accompanied by other symptoms
Pneumococcal Meningitis A bacterial infection passed via sneezing , coughing and saliva transfer Vaccination can help prevent the risk of infection	Any or all of: Fever High-pitched cry in babies Sensitivity to bright light Vomiting Headache Stiff neck Bulging fontanelle in infants Joint and/or muscle pain Irritability Drowsy/disoriented Loss of consciousness
Roseola A viral infection	High fever for about 3 days Loss of appetite Swollen lymph glands in the neck Followed by a rash (pink/red spots) all over the body
Rubella (German Measles) A viral infection Can have serious consequences if a pregnant woman comes into contact with Rubella for her developing baby Highly contagious via coughing or sneezing or direct contact Infectious period is 7 days from before onset of the rash and untill at least 5 days after the onset of the rash Incubation period is 15-20 days	Mild fever Mild rash on body, neck and face Joint pain Swollen glands Headache, cough, cold
Threadworm (Pinworm) A parasite infestation Infection occurs after ingesting a pinworm egg Worm eggs can survive outside the body for up to 3 weeks, usually in dirt or dust	Itchy bottom Disrupted sleep and daytime irritability Worms may be visible in stools or from the anus at night
Thrush A fungal infection Caused by the abnormal growth of yeast (Candida albicans) Infection can be transmitted by direct contact	Oral Thrush: Sores inside the mouth A build-up of cottage cheese-like discharge from the mouth. Topical rash: Often occurs in the diaper region and folds of the skin nearby Distinct red inflamed rash with sharply outlined edges Smaller spots (pustules) may be present outside the main rash area
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) A bacterial infection Occurs more frequently in girls Untreated UTI can cause damage to the kidneys To prevent infection always wipe from front to back during a diaper change	Unexplained high fever Increased urine output Painful or burning sensation with urination Offensive odour Older children may have daytime and night-time accidents Can only be confirmed by a urine analysis
Vomiting Usually caused by a viral infection The main concern for an infant or child suffering from vomiting is dehydration	Stomach cramps followed by an episode of vomiting Often accompanied by diarrhoea More serious symptoms that need urgent medical attention: Vomiting after a head injury Vomit is bright yellow or green Vomit contains blood Constant stomach pain High fever is present Child seems confused and is difficult to wake Dehydration is evident
Whooping Cough (Pertussis) A bacterial infection Highly contagious to an un-immunised child Spread via sneezing, coughing and direct contact Most infectious period is from onset of symptoms to 2 weeks after the onset of the cough i.e. approximately 21 days Incubation period is commonly 7 – 10 days after contact with an infected person	Initial symptoms are similar to a common cold Cough develops where child may have a coughing spasm lasting for a minute or more Characteristic “whooping” sound as the child tries to draw breath Difficulty breathing Face may turn red or blue May vomit after an attack
For advice and specific treatments, visit your local doctor or medical practitioner.

Baby illness/symptoms

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