Even
young babies can come into contact with childhood illnesses, and
experience full-blown symptoms. It can help to be aware of what your
baby could catch, and what to look out for. Breastfeeding moms who are
immune will likely pass on their own immunity, and if your baby has been
vaccinated, he will also have some immunity of his own.
Table | Childhood illness | Incubation period | Symptoms | Treatment | Notes |
|---|
| Measles | 10 days | Fever,
runny nose, cough, sore and reddened eyes, followed by a red-brown rash
that usually starts on the face and spreads down the body about 3–7
days after the first symptoms appear | Painkillers
and plenty of liquids; antibiotics for any secondary infection; plenty
of fluids; keep your baby in a darkened room, since measles can cause
sensitivity to bright light | | | Mumps | 2–3 weeks | Fever, headache, swelling of the main salivary glands producing a “chipmunk” appearance affecting the jaw, cheek, and neck | Plenty of fluids, painkillers (acetaminophen), rest; use tepid water to sponge your baby down | | | Rubella (German measles) | 14–21 days | A
light rash of pink dots, low-grade fever, aches and pains, headaches,
sore throat, swelling of lymph nodes (glands) in the neck, loss of
appetite | Acetaminophen to bring down the fever; calamine lotion or mild corticosteroids to ease the rash; plenty of tepid baths | | | Whooping cough (pertussis) | About 7 days | Flu-like
symptoms, runny nose, sneezing, low-grade fever, a cough that worsens
over a couple of weeks and is worse at night, causing paroxysms that can
make your baby’s face turn blue or red; sometimes vomiting with
coughing spells | Antibiotics
to clear the bacteria causing the infection; a vaporizer in the baby’s
environment; admission to the hospital is likely for babies under 6
months, to avoid complications like pneumonia | | | Chicken pox | 10–14 days | Headache,
fever, general malaise, spots starting on the trunk and spreading to
most parts of the body, appearing as little pimples that fill with fluid
to form blisters that then crust over | Calamine
lotion to ease the itching; acetaminophen to reduce fever and
discomfort; plenty of fluids; keep nails short and clean, or use mittens
to prevent damage from scratching | | | Meningitis | Viral meningitis: 3–7 days
Bacterial meningitis: 1–7 days | Viral
meningitis tends to appear most often in summer months and is generally
less severe; initially vague flu-like symptoms occur with fever and
aches and pains, which develop over a couple of days. Bacterial
meningitis is more severe, and symptoms can develop rapidly, often
within hours. In babies and small children they include: stiff body with
jerky movements (or extreme floppiness), irritability or dislike of
being handled, shrill cry or unusual moaning, refusal to feed, tense or
bulging fontanelle, pale blotchy skin, rapid breathing, fever. In older
children look for a rash that doesn’t fade under pressure (try pressing a
glass against the skin) | If
you suspect meningitis, you must seek emergency medical attention
immediately—bacterial forms will require intravenous antibiotics; there
is no treatment for viral meningitis, although medication may be offered
to control the symptoms | |
Boosting immunity
Although regular
immunization means that most childhood illnesses are no longer
prevalent, you should watch out for signs, and, if you are worried,
contact your doctor.
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