5 Most Common Illnesses in Newborns That Parents Must Know

Newborns brings happiness and joy in the family. After nine long months, having a little one in your arms is the greatest gift that a mother can have.

Neonatal illnesses are conditions that affect newborn babies. Babies are most vulnerable just after birth. They may be born with certain congenital conditions or may contract infections easily. If you are a new parent, you should be aware of the common health problems that babies encounter and how to tackle them so that you can take care of your newborns in the best way possible.

Neonatal diseases are quite unique among newborns diseases because:
(1) there is a dramatic physiological transition from fetal to neonatal life,
(2) organs are still in their developmental stage, and
(3) fetuses are affected by the condition of uterine environment, such as intrauterine infection/inflammation.

5 Most Common Illnesses in Newborns

1. BIRTH INJURIES
   Sometimes, during the birth process, newborns may suffer a physical injury. It is called birth injury or birth trauma. A birth injury could result from the use of the forceps while getting the baby out of the birth canal. Most babies recover quickly from the trauma of childbirth. Babies delivered normally may have a swelling on their scalp due to vacuum; they may also get injured due to the use of forceps.

2. LISTERIA
   The bacteria Listeria monocytogenes causes infections such as pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis. Mothers should be taken care during their tenure of pregnancy to prevent listeriosis in newborns.
   
   Prevention
   a. Soil contaminated raw vegetables or the soil from where the manure has been used as a fertilizer must not be consumed by the pregnant mother.
   
   b. Animal meat that is consumed by the mother must be properly cooked to prevent your baby catching listeriosis.
   
   c. Foods that are made from unpasteurized milk must not be consumed by the mother.
   
   d. Soft cheeses hot dogs and deli meats should be avoided.
   
   e. Food cooked must pertain to a proper internal temperature.
   
   f. Before eating, always wash the fruits and vegetables to prevent listeriosis in newborns.
   
   g. Always drink pasteurized milk and milk must be refrigerated at the appropriate temperature, below 4 degrees Celsius.
   
   h. Your hands must be thoroughly clean with warm, soapy water before and after preparing food. Post cooking use hot and soapy water to clean the utensils and all the things used to prepare food.
   
   i. Use a scrub brush or vegetable brush to clean the raw vegetables under plenty of running water.
   
   READ ALSO: FRUITS TO EAT DURING PREGNANCY
   
3. CONJUNCTIVITIS
   Few newborns experience an inflammation of the membranes that cover the eyes which is called pinkeye or conjunctivitis. Symptoms of conjunctivitis include red eyes, swelling and discharge from the eyes.
   
   Causes of Conjunctivitis
   
   a. Inclusion Conjunctivitis: Women with the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis transfer this genital infection. Women treated with conjunctivitis pass the bacteria to their child.
   
   b. Gonococcal Conjunctivitis: Neisseria gonorrhea causes Gonococcal conjunctivitis. Women who are not treated for gonorrhoeic transfer the bacteria during the birth to their baby and this is how the eyelids of newborns get swollen up and the disease gets transferred.
   
   c. Chemical Conjunctivitis: When eye drops are instilled into newborn’s eyes to stop bacterial infection, then this leads to irritation of the eyes and is called chemical conjunctivitis.
   
   d. Neonatal Conjunctivitis: This conjunctivitis occurs from Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhea passed from the mother to the baby during the birth when the baby passes through the birth canal. This occurs when the mother is not treated properly for these sexually transmitted diseases.
   
   Treatment for Conjunctivitis
   
   Antibiotic eye drops and ointment can be used to treat conjunctivitis in newborns. The infection can be very contagious and if things get serious then hospitalization is urgent. Oral antibiotics are given if the conjunctivitis is chlamydial in nature. Intravenous antibiotics need to be given if the baby has Gonococcal conjunctivitis
   
   A mild warm compress applied gently to the eye is soothing for swelling and irritation. Be sure to wash your hands before and after touching the eyes of your baby.
   
   Prevention Of Conjunctivitis
   
   a. Pregnant mothers suffering from genital herpes should talk to their physician about ways to prevent conjunctivitis in their offspring
   
   b. The child’s infected eye should be rinsed with a saline solution to remove the crust, a gentle and warm message between the eye and nasal area to help clear the tear duct.
   
4. SEPSIS
   Sepsis is an infection that accounts the spread of germs all throughout the body’s blood and tissues. Viruses, fungi, parasites or bacteria cause sepsis.
   
   Causes of Sepsis
   
   a. Membranes or the amniotic sacs if ruptured prematurely for an extended length of time can cause sepsis in newborns.
   
   b. Problems such as bleeding during labor or delivery difficulties.
   
   c. Placental tissues infection or uterus.
   
   d. If the mother is suffering from fever, then it can also cause sepsis in the newborn.
   
   Prevention of Sepsis
   
   a. Preventive antibiotic treatments must be rendered immediately if the sepsis is at an increased risk for the babies. Treatment and preventing infections in mothers with HSV.
   
   b. Having a proper birthplace. The baby should be delivered within 12 to 24 hours after the amniotic membranes break. Whereas the caesarean delivery should be done within four to six hours of rupture of amniotic membranes.
   
   c. To diagnose or rule out sepsis, doctors draw blood and sometimes examine cerebrospinal fluid and other body fluids to look for bacteria or other germs.
   
   Treatment of Sepsis
   
   Treatment of sepsis in the newborn depends on the cause of the sepsis, medical history, overall health, the baby’s age, the extent of the sepsis, the type of therapies, procedures medications which the newborn baby can tolerate. It also depends on the disease course expectation, the preference of the parents. The main line of treatment of sepsis for new babies is antibiotics.
   
5. COLIC
   
   Colic is very common in newborns but that does not make it easier for parents to handle. When a baby cries continuously for no apparent reason, especially in the evening, he may have colic. The exact cause of colic is not known and some theories behind it suggest that it could be because of gas, hormones that cause stomach pain, overstimulation by light or sound, or a growing digestive system. Colic starts at 2 weeks in full-term infants and should subside by the time the baby is 3 months of age. However, if this condition persists, it could be because of intolerance to milk formula or some other underlying condition. It is best to consult a doctor to get the condition diagnosed.
   

Women when pregnant should undergo proper and careful check up and do all the possible tests to make sure that their baby is fine and is not infected with any disease.