RECOGNIZING SICKNESS IN CHILDREN
Early recognition that a
child is sick means a better chance of (1) reducing the seriousness of the
disease itself, (2) avoiding complications, and (3) sometimes preventing fatal
consequences. Of course, infants are unable to tell us that they are sick.
Children under three can't be relied upon too definitely for announcements of
symptoms of illness. And even older children may become so frightened or drowsy
from illness that they do not tell us early enough that they do not feel well.
How can you recognize illness 1n babies and young children? Don't rely
completely on a list of symptoms and signs.
Actually, a mother usually can tell as soon as a doctor that
a child is not feeling right. She senses that he is not eating well or is
unusually irritable. She may notice that expected spitting-up of milk has
turned into real vomiting. She may notice that a child is drowsy at a time of
day when he is usually alert. The child's mother knows his cry, too. There are
cries of hunger, of loneliness, and of fright; these are different from the cry
that accompanies pain.
There may be an obvious explanation for a pain cry-for
example, an open safety pin in a diaper. More likely, it is caused by colic,
which is frequent in infants. If the pained type of crying continues, take the
child's temperature. If the temperature is elevated, notify your doctor. Even
if the temperature is normal and the crying does not subside in the next hour,
it is best to tell your doctor. Severe diarrhea is another sign of illness, as
is also the appearance of bloody or black bowel movements.
Unconsciousness,
stiff neck, and convulsions, of course, are such important signs of potentially
serious illness that your doctor should be told about them immediately. If he
is not available, take your child to the hospital with which your doctor is
associated so an intern or resident can start treatment until your own doctor
can be located. Cough is more unusual in infants than in adults and therefore
is an important indication of illness.
OLD Children are usually more susceptible to
colds than adults. It isn't a cold itself that need worry you, but what a cold
may lead to, and every mother should be on guard to prevent the complications.
There is no certain way of avoiding colds, but there are things you can do to
reduce the frequency of a child's colds. He should not be allowed to get
overtired.
A well-balanced diet will help increase a child's general health and
to some extent help improve his resistance; it wills certainly not guarantee
that he will not get a cold, but if he does get a cold it will help prevent
complications. Try to keep a child away from other people, both adults and
children, who have colds. If a mother gets a cold, she should mention it to the
baby's doctor and ask him about the need for any special precautions.
