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Home › Articles › Illnesses, Diseases & Disorders › Top 10 Infant Medical Conditions

Top 10 Infant Medical Conditions

Common Problems and How to Handle Them

By Sue Poremba

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

Parents of newborns worry every time their child sneezes or has a rash, but nearly every child will experience at least one of the following medical conditions during his or her first year of life. Luckily for parents, these conditions are usually easy to treat or avoid.

Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD)
"One hundred percent of babies under 6 months reflux stomach contents back up," says Dr. Shelly David Senders of Senders Pediatric Research in University Heights, Ohio. "That is because the valve that keeps things in the stomach is a two-way valve for the first six to nine months and then eventually becomes one way. Babies often overeat and often don't burp effectively, and so a little extra food under a little more pressure comes up the mouth and occasionally out the nose. Most of the time, reflux is painless. Occasionally, it can be painful as well."

Solution: Burping the baby more often helps, as does positioning the baby at an angle whenever possible. GERD is not harmful, but it is annoying, just as it is for adults, Dr. Senders says.

Diaper Rash
Any baby who wears a diaper will have diaper rash at some point. Diaper rash, according to Dr. Jordanna Gilman, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, is irritation of the skin in the diaper area. "Bacteria and yeast deposits can cause a rash," Dr. Gilman says.

Solution: Change diapers frequently. If a rash is present, use a warm wet wash cloth – not baby wipes, which can cause irritation – to clean the diaper area. After it is clean, cover the area with zinc oxide, which provides a protective barrier, Dr. Gilman says. Don't use lotions, powders or oils, which can irritate this sensitive area.

Teething
The arrival of the first tooth is exciting, but extremely painful for the baby. When teething, babies will often drool excessively (which can cause a rash), have diarrhea and be feverish. These are symptoms of teething and are generally harmless.

Solution: Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the pain. To numb the gum, use something ice cold like a teething ring, frozen wash cloth, a cold spoon or let the child eat an ice pop.


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