Signs Your Baby Should See A Doctor (PART 2)

Continued from Part 1

7. BLOOD STREAKS IN STOOL/URINE

See a doctor if your baby has fewer bowel movements than usual for a couple of days or you notice blood streaks in his stool or urine. When your baby is constipated, he may strain to pass stools, causing small tears in his anus. However, there could be more serious reasons like food allergies, various forms of colitis and intussusception or other intestinal disorders.

Blood in his urine could be a sign that he has a urinary tract infection or a more serious kidney infection, so, you should check with the doctor. Infections of this kind left untreated could lead to kidney damage.

8. EXCESSIVE COLD

Any cold that interferes with your baby’s breathing, accompanied by severe coughs, should have you racing to a doctor. Apart from causing breathing difficulty, this condition would change his sleep pattern and make him more prone to fatigue.

READ ALSO: First Aid Kit For Babies

9. RASH AND EAR TROUBLE

If he suddenly develops an unexplainable rash, especially one accompanied by a fever, check with a doctor to be sure it’s nothing you should lose sleep over.

Also, if he doesn’t respond normally to sounds or has fluids draining from his ears, don’t assume he’ll outgrow it, find out what’s going on.

READ ALSO: Your Baby’s Gas Pain: Common Causes & What to Do

10. CONCUSSION

Taking ill advice from neighbours if a baby falls and loses consciousness is dangerous. You should take him for medical examination immediately to rule out any serious damage to his brain. Once this is done, you will be instructed to watch out for symptoms like vomiting, problems with coordination and vision or unusual tiredness, as these may indicate damage not discovered during initial examination.

Also, if baby falls without losing consciousness, whether there are blood traces or not, see a doctor to be cocksure there are no internal injuries.

 11. STIFF NECK

Your baby’s stiff neck, resulting in an inability to turn his head, could be a sign of meningitis, which can lead to brain damage, deafness and death. Other symptoms that indicate meningitis include, swollen fontanelles, a high fever that makes his hands and feet cold to touch, a purple-red rash that doesn’t disappear if a glass is pressed to it or pale, blotchy skin and breathing difficulty. If you notice any of these, take him to a doctor immediately.

12. PINK EYES AND CRUSTY EYELIDS

Waking up with pink/watery or sticky eyes could be a sign of an eye infection like conjunctivitis. Getting it treated early would prevent it from spreading and get your baby’s eyes back to normal.

13. SUNBURN

A bad sunburn, especially one that causes blisters on his skin, could cause heatstroke or vomiting and heighten the risk of contracting skin cancer later in life. You should therefore seek medical care if it occurs. Avoid applying Vaseline or any kind of petroleum based product on his skin, rather, cool the sunburned area with a damp facecloth and use recommended medication.

14. ABNORMAL SLEEP

It’s okay for a baby to sleep for long periods. However, if he sleeps endlessly without waking for feeds and becomes unusually inactive, have him checked. You might think his sleeping all day/night for days, relieves you of the troubles but the fact is, it isn’t normal.

15. TENDER NAVEL OR PENIS

You should also contact your doctor if your baby’s umbilical area or penis suddenly becomes red or starts to ooze or bleed.

Apart from these instances, whenever you feel something could be wrong with your baby, trust your instincts and pay a visit to the doctor. Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry.