Dr. VAITHILINGAM

Consultant Pediatrician

It is not important for parents to know every disease and symptom that could potentially affect their child. But parents should be aware of the more significant symptoms that require timely care, in some cases, emergency care. Do not neglect the following symptoms.  Take your child to a doctor immediately.

• A baby born with indifference in birth organs.
• A pre-mature baby. A baby that doesn’t cry when born.
• A baby with fever and wheezing.  Body changes to blue colour.  Baby that does not drink milk!  Baby’s hands and legs turn icy. A swollen stomach, and a baby that cries continuously with fits.
• A baby from birth ‘till 3 months that gets a frequent fever.
• A baby that has high fever regularly (102.F & above)
• An unconscious baby
• A baby with fits.  If his/her eyes suddenly turn to one side.  Also if there’s less movements in hands and legs.
• A baby whose water and liquid intake has significantly decreased.  A baby with stiffness of blood vessels in the neck, and a baby that turns blue.
• Heartbeat raises over normal level, a baby with difficulty breathing.
• Continuous cough, changes in contraction and relaxation of ribs.
• A baby that never likes to lie down!  A baby that only wants to sit.
• Continuous vomiting, dysentery, blood & sputum in stool. Swelling of stomach.
• Dehydration sets in due to increased dysentery. Dryness of mouth, eyes, and skin.
• Continuous crying of the child due to dysentery.
• A child with fever can get measles on the skin.
• Continuous headache & sudden eye defects.
• Continuous stomach ache & vomiting
• A change in the colour of urine to red (blood), brown, black, or white or deep yellow.
• The level of excretion of urine is decreased accompanied by crying of the child in pain during passing of urine.
• Face swollen particularly under the eyes.  Or a swollen foot, leg, and/or stomach.
• Anemia.
• Scorpion, snake and/or poisonous insect bites.
• Dogs and other animal bites.
• Continuous bleeding from the injured part.  Excretion of blood in urine, stools, and/or sputum.
• Loss of blood from ears, nose and/or throat after an accident.
• A child that used to cry now has a rough voice and does not make a sound during crying.
• A child with continuous constipation.
• A mother is the first person to notice any changes in the condition of her child. As soon as she notices any of the above changes, she must take the child to the doctor, immediately.