What is it about ?
A child can get sick very suddenly. In infants and toddlers, it is difficult to interpret the symptoms and draw the right conclusions. An infant may have only a few symptoms and yet be seriously ill, while a child who looks very ill may as well have just a small, trivial condition. We describe some symptoms below.
Fever
It is a question of fever as soon as the temperature taken by the anus reaches 38 ° C. A child under 3 months of age who has a fever should be seen by the doctor promptly. If the child is less than 1 month old, it is even better to immediately take him to the hospital. This is because the risk of generalized bacterial infection is high in very young children.
Breathless
A child with a respiratory tract infection may feel short of breath. In this case, hospitalization is required. The RSV virus is a well-known cause of respiratory infections in children. These infections are often rife with epidemics. Signs of respiratory distress are rapid breathing and an enlarged chest. The pronounced movements of the ribs or stomach that accompany breathing are also a sign of respiratory distress. Many infants breathe through their noses. The presence of mucus in the nose can therefore also give rise to respiratory distress. The child will receive oxygen in the hospital. On the basis of a blood test and an x-ray of the lungs, the doctor will decide on the best treatment. Problems with the heart can also cause respiratory distress.
Cough
If your child is coughing, you should be especially aware of the possibility of whooping cough. Whooping cough is a dangerous disease for infants. A simple suspicion of whooping cough is enough to justify hospitalization and start an antibiotic. There is a vaccine against whooping cough, but it does not provide complete protection.
Central nervous system symptoms
A condition of the central nervous system, such as seizures or loss of consciousness, requires urgent hospitalization. It is important that the airways remain open and that the child receives sufficient oxygen. Seizures in a child under 6 months old always require additional examinations. Fever does not trigger seizures until this age. Epilepsy rarely develops at a very young age. Besides a thorough examination, medical data such as lack of oxygen at birth, premature birth, etc. are very important in reaching a diagnosis. Childhood abuse (shaken baby syndrome) can also cause these types of symptoms.
Heart failure
In infants, signs of heart failure are shortness of breath, excessive sweating and breastfeeding fatigue, limited weight gain, pallor, swollen liver, heart murmur, weak heartbeat in the legs, and rapid heartbeat. Sometimes these symptoms do not appear until after a few weeks.
Acute abdomen (sudden onset severe stomach pain)
A baby cannot express that he has a stomach ache. This is why it is always essential to examine the belly of a sick infant.
Vomiting is the main symptom of an acute abdomen, but it is not specific. This means that vomiting is also present in many other conditions. Jet vomiting at 1 month of age may suggest narrowing of the stomach outlet. Greenish vomiting always requires additional examinations.
Bleeding from the anus is usually the result of an anal fissure, rash, or inflammation of the end of the intestine. They usually go away spontaneously.
In rarer cases, it is a cow’s milk allergy, bacterial infection, or intussusception (that is, part of the intestine is blocked because of ‘it is folded up on itself (like an upturned glove).
Appendicitis does not affect very young children.
Another cause of acute abdomen can be a groin hernia. A piece of the intestine can become stuck, requiring urgent medical intervention.
Jaundice
As the name suggests, jaundice is yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes. In newborns, jaundice that lasts more than a week or that occurs after the baby is discharged from the maternity ward requires additional examinations. In most cases, this is a prolongation of physiological jaundice or jaundice associated with breast milk. We do not know the reason. If jaundice persists for a long time or if the child gives a general impression of being unwell, hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) should be excluded and, if necessary, treated promptly. Jaundice associated with dark urine and pale stools may suggest bile duct abnormalities.
How is the diagnosis made?
The doctor will first and foremost listen to the parents’ story, which will help him to make the correct diagnosis and avoid unnecessary examinations. The doctor will then perform a complete physical examination, during which he will assess the general appearance, irritability, muscle tone, skin color and temperature. He will also feel the fontanelles. Finally, he will examine the heart, lungs, stomach, genitals, throat, nose and ears.
What can you do ?
Pay attention to the warning signs. To know :
- fever in an infant less than 3 months old,
- difficult breathing, respiratory distress,
- abnormal skin color
- jet vomiting
- severe diarrhea with possible signs of dehydration (small amount of urine, crying without tears, sunken eyes, skin that does not return to its shape when you pinch it),
- refusal to eat or drink.
What can your doctor do?
Based on the physical examination, the doctor will decide whether or not he can start treatment or whether he should refer you to the hospital.
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