Tag: Child Health

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Ailmemts & Remedies

Reye’s syndrome

Definition:
Reye’s syndrome is a potentially fatal disease that causes numerous detrimental effects to many organs, especially the brain and liver, as well as causing a lower than usual level of blood sugar (hypoglycemia).. Reye’s syndrome most often affects children and teenagers recovering from a viral infection and who may also have a metabolic disorder. The exact cause is unknown, and while it has been associated with aspirin consumption by children with viral illness, it also occurs in the absence of aspirin use.
.You may click to see larger picture
The disease causes fatty liver with minimal inflammation and severe encephalopathy (with swelling of the brain). The liver may become slightly enlarged and firm, and there is a change in the appearance of the kidneys. Jaundice is not usually present.

CLICK TO SEE THE PICTURES

Early diagnosis is vital; while most children recover with supportive therapy, severe brain injury or death are potential complications.

Boys and girls can both be affected, but the condition is very rare – there were only three reported cases in the UK and Ireland in 2000.

The syndrome is named after Dr. R. Douglas Reye, who, along with fellow physicians Dr. Graeme Morgan and Dr. Jim Baral, published the first study of the syndrome in 1963 in The Lancet. In retrospect, the occurrence of the syndrome may have first been reported in 1929.

Symptoms :
Reye’s syndrome progresses through five stages, explained below:

*Stage I
…#Rash on palms of hands and feet
…#Persistent, heavy vomiting that is not relieved by not eating
…#Generalized lethargy
…#Confusion
…#Nightmares
…#High fever
…#Headaches

*Stage II
…#Stupor caused by encephalitis
…#Hyperventilation
…#Fatty liver (found by biopsy)
…#Hyperactive reflexes

*Stage III
…#Continuation of Stage I and II symptoms
…#Possible coma
…#Possible cerebral oedema
…#Rarely, respiratory arrest

*Stage IV
…#Deepening coma
…#Dilated pupils with minimal response to light
…#Minimal but still present hepatic dysfunction

*Stage V
…#Very rapid onset following stage IV
…#Deep coma
…#Seizures
…#Multiple organ failure
…#Flaccidity
…#Hyperammonemia (above 300 mg/dL of blood)
…#Death

Causes:
The cause of Reye’s syndrome isn’t fully understood. Reye’s syndrome seems to be triggered by using aspirin to treat a viral illness or infection — particularly flu (influenza) and chickenpox — in children and teenagers who have an underlying fatty acid oxidation disorder. Fatty acid oxidation disorders are a group of inherited metabolic disorders in which the body is unable to breakdown fatty acids because an enzyme is missing or not working properly. A screening test is needed to determine if your child has a fatty acid oxidation disorder.

In some cases, Reye’s syndrome may be an underlying metabolic condition that’s unmasked by a viral illness. Exposure to certain toxins — such as insecticides, herbicides and paint thinner — also may contribute to Reye’s syndrome.

Risk Factors:
The following factors — usually when they occur together — may increase your child’s risk of developing Reye’s syndrome:

Using aspirin to treat a viral infection, such as flu, chickenpox or an upper respiratory infection
Having an underlying fatty acid oxidation disorder

Complications:
Most children and teenagers who have Reye’s syndrome survive, although varying degrees of permanent brain damage are possible. Without proper diagnosis and treatment, Reye’s syndrome can be fatal within a few days.

Diagnosis:
Exams and TestsThe following tests may be used to diagnose Reye syndrome:

•Blood chemistry tests
•Head CT or head MRI scan
•Liver biopsy
•Liver function tests
•Serum ammonia test
•Spinal tap

Treatment:
Immediate emergency treatment is needed for Reye’s syndrome, usually in an intensive care unit.

There is no specific treatment for this condition. The health care provider will monitor the pressure in the brain, blood gases, and blood acid-base balance (pH).

Treatments may include:

•Breathing support (a breathing machine may be needed during a deep coma)
•Fluids by IV to provide electrolytes and glucose
•Steroids to reduce swelling in the brain

Prognosis :
Documented cases of Reye’s syndrome in adults are rare. The recovery of adults with the syndrome is generally complete, with liver and brain function returning to normal within two weeks of the illness. In children, however, mild to severe permanent brain damage is possible, especially in infants. Over thirty percent of the cases reported in the United States from 1981 through 1997 resulted in fatality.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/reyes1.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reye’s_syndrome
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/reyes-syndrome/DS00142
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001565.htm
http://bryanking.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/reyes_syndrome.jpg

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Health Problems & Solutions

Some Health Quaries & Answers

‘My child is too thin’ :

Q: My daughter is two years old and very thin. She is picky about her food and I feel she does not eat enough. Her weight is only 9kg. Is it a good idea to give her appetite stimulating tonics?
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A: Normally, a child weighs triple its birth weight at the end of the first year and adds 2kg the next year. So your daughter may be in the normal range. It is better to try to discover why she does not eat and treat the cause rather than use tonics. Appetite stimulants can have severe side effects. Some of them contain large amounts of iodine, steroids or cyproheptadine (a banned chemical). They are best avoided.

What you can do is reduce her milk intake to 400ml a day. Give half after breakfast and the rest at tea time. Figure out what she likes to eat.

Also, get her dewormed; your paediatrician will tell you how. And remember, some children are just difficult when it comes to food.

Digital spasms :

Q: I get sudden painful spasms in my fingers and toes, especially at night. I am 34 years old.

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A: Calcium deficiency can cause this. If you are not on calcium supplements, starting them may help. Consult a physician to help with the diagnosis and dosage of calcium.

Pressure pills :

Q: Is there a natural way to reduce blood pressure? Currently I am on a lot of medication for it.

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A: You can reduce your dependence on tablets by achieving ideal body weight (height in metre squared multiplied by 23), walking an hour a day, reducing salt intake to 2.5gm a day, avoiding salted snacks, sleeping at regular hours and reducing stress with yoga and meditation.

Fit and fine :

Q: My son is one and a half years old and has had fits twice. The doctor says it is “fever fits”. I am worried that he may become epileptic. What is a fever fit?

A: A febrile seizure (fever fit) usually occurs in children under the age of 5 during an episode of fever. Only one third of the affected children have a second seizure. A certain percentage of children will develop epilepsy but the incidence is not greater in those who have had febrile seizures. Also, these children do not develop mental retardation nor is their intelligence affected. But a febrile fit can be frightening to watch. To prevent such seizures, fever has to be tackled immediately. Buy a digital thermometer and check the temperature by placing it in the child’s armpit (remember, your hand is not a thermometer). If the temperature is greater than 100°F, give the child 10mg/kg of paracetemol. Remove the child’s clothes and sponge him down with tap water. Turn the fan on full speed. After four hours check the temperature again. If it has risen, repeat the above process. Contact your doctor.

Feet first

Q: I have cracked feet. Not only does it look ugly, when water enters the cracks they become painful and inflamed.

 

A: You could try soaking your feet in hot water to which rock salt and liquid soap have been added. After 10 minutes, scrub the foot gently with a small plastic brush. Then apply baby oil. After a few weeks, you will see a vast improvement.

Source : The Telegraph ( kolkata, India)

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Pediatric

Development of Toddler

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Introduction:
Brain fact: Brains are ready for learning from birth.
The human brain function and development grows amazingly fast, starting from day one in the womb. By age 6, your baby’s brain will be almost adult-sized. Even at birth, babies’ brains contain millions of brain cells, which are called neurons.

Brain fact: Brain connections are strengthened with experience.
Brain connections are called synapses. Thousands and thousands of them are formed with everyday experiences. Synapses are crucial because they transmit brain impulses, which control body functions, thinking, feeling, learning, memory, and language.

Your toddler has a new toy, which he is exploring with lots of energy. His brain cells are firing away, and new synapses may occur. Toddlers‘ brains will make many more synapses than needed for good brain functioning. Synapses that are used frequently will be strengthened and remain. Those that are not will eventually disappear. So by hugging and reading to your toddler, you can encourage the growth and strengthening of brain connections.

When a baby is born, parents must consider their most important job is to take proper care  of their child, leaving aside    every other important  job  in   life.

Toddlers are children ages 1 – 3.

THEORIES
Jean Piaget, in the cognitive (thought) development theory, includes the following:

•Early use of instruments or tools
•Following visual (then later, invisible) displacement (moving from one place to another) of objects
•Understanding that objects and people are there even if you can’t see them (object and people permanence)
Erik H. Erikson‘s personal-social development theory says the toddler stage represents Autonomy (independence) vs. Shame or Doubt. The child learns to adjust to society’s demands, while trying to maintain independence and a sense of self.

These milestones are typical of children in the toddler stages. Some variation is normal. If you have questions about your child’s development, contact your health care provider.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
The following are signs of expected physical development in a toddler:

GROSS MOTOR SKILLS (use of large muscles in the legs and arms)
•Stands alone well by 12 months
•Walks well by 12 – 15 months (if the child is not walking by 18 months, he or she should be evaluated by a health care provider)
•Learns to walk backwards and up steps with help at about 16 – 18 months
•Throws a ball overhand and kicks a ball forward at about 18 – 24 months
•Jumps in place by about 24 months
•Rides a tricycle and stands briefly on one foot by about 36 months

.
FINE MOTOR SKILLS (use of small muscles in hands and fingers)……click & see
•Makes tower of three cubes by around 15 months
•Scribbles by 15 – 18 months
•Can use spoon and drink from a cup by 24 months
•Can copy a circle by 36 months

.
LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

click & see

•Uses 2 – 3 words (other than Mama or Dada) at 12 – 15 months

•Understands and follows simple commands (“bring to Mommy”) at 14 – 16 months
•Names pictures of items and animals at 18 – 24 months
•Points to named body parts at 18 – 24 months
•Begins to say his or her own name at 22 – 24 months
•Combines 2 words at 16 to 24 months — there is a range of ages at which children are first able to combine words into sentences; if a toddler cannot do so by 24 months, parents should consult their health care provider
•Knows gender and age by 36 months.

.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT…....click & see
•Indicates some needs by pointing at 12 – 15 months
•Looks for help when in trouble by 18 months
•Helps to undress and put things away by 18 – 24 months
•Listens to stories when shown pictures and can tell about immediate experiences by 24 months
•Can engage in pretend play and simple games by 24 – 36 months

BEHAVIOR
Toddlers are always trying to be more independent. This creates not only special safety concerns, but discipline challenges. The child must be taught — in a consistent manner — the limits of appropriate vs. inappropriate behavior.

When toddlers try out activities they can’t quite do yet, they can get frustrated and angry. Breath-holding, crying, screaming, and temper tantrums may be daily occurrences.

It is important for a child to learn from experiences and to be able to rely on consistent boundaries between acceptable and unacceptable behaviors.

Toddlers always imitate their parents and so  toddlers behavior with others depends  on their parents behavior .
.
SAFETY

TODDLER SAFETY IS MOST IMPORTANT
•It is important for parents to recognize that the child can now walk, run, climb, jump, and explore. This new stage of movement makes child-proofing the home essential. Window guards, gates on stairways, cabinet locks, toilet seat locks, electric outlet covers, and other safety features are essential.
•As during the infancy period, place the toddler in a safety restraint (toddler car seat) when riding in a car.
•Do not leave a toddler unattended for even short periods of time. Remember, more accidents occur during the toddler years than at any other stage of childhood.
•Introduce and strictly stick to rules about not playing in streets or crossing without an adult.
•Falls are a major cause of injury. Keep gates or doors to stairways closed, and use guards for all windows above the ground floor. Do not leave chairs or ladders in areas that are likely to tempt the toddler into climbing up to explore new heights. Use corner guards on furniture in areas where the toddler is likely to walk, play, or run.
•Childhood poisonings are a frequent source of illness and death during the toddler years. Keep all medications in a locked cabinet. Keep all toxic household products (polishes, acids, cleaning solutions, chlorine bleach, lighter fluid, insecticides, or poisons) in a locked cabinet or closet. Many household plants may cause illness if eaten. Toad stools and other garden plants may cause serious illness or death. Get a list of these common plants from your pediatrician.
•If a family member owns a firearm, make sure it is unloaded and locked up in a secure place.
•Keep toddlers away from the kitchen with a safety gate, or place them in a playpen or high chair. This will eliminate the danger of burns from pulling hot foods off the stove or bumping into the hot oven door.
•Toddlers love to play in water, but should never be allowed to do so alone. A toddler may drown even in shallow water in a bathtub. Parent-child swimming lessons can be another safe and enjoyable way for toddlers to play in water. Never leave a child unattended near a pool, open toilet, or bathtub. Toddlers cannot learn how to swim and cannot be independent near any body of water.

.
PARENTING TIPS
•The toddler years are the time to begin instilling values, reasoning, and incentives in the child, so that they learn accepted rules of behavior. It is important for parents to be consistent both in modeling behavior (behaving the way you want your child to behave),and in addressing appropriate versus inappropriate behavior in the child. Recognize and reward positive behavior. You can introduce time-outs for negative behavior, or for going beyond the limits you set for your child.
•The toddler’s favorite word may seem to be “NO!!!” It is important for parents not to fall into a pattern of negative behavior with yelling, spanking, and threatening of their own.
•Teach children the proper names of body parts.
•Stress the unique, individual qualities of the child.
•Teach concepts of please, thank you, and sharing with others.
•Read to the child on a regular basis — it will enhance the development of verbal skills.
•Toddlers thrive on regularity. Major changes in their routine are challenging for them. Toddlers should have regular nap, bed, snack, and meal times.
•Toddlers should not be allowed to eat many snacks throughout the day. Multiple snack times tend to suppress their appetite for regular meals, which tend to be more balanced.
•Travel and guests can be expected to disrupt the child’s routine and make them more irritable. The best responses to these situations are reassurance and reestablishing routine in a calm way.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002010.htm
http://www.enfamil.com/app/iwp/enf10/content.do?dm=enf&id=/Consumer_Home3/Toddlers3/Toddlers_Articles/brainDevelopment&iwpst=B2C&ls=0&cm_mmc=paid%20search-_-Enfagrow-_-Google-_-2010&csred=1&r=3482830970

http://www.whattoexpect.com/funnel/registration.aspx?18=toddlerdevelopment&xid=g_reg&s_kwcid=TC|21967|the%20development%20of%20toddlers||S|b|8765848023&gclid=CKbri6_J56gCFRG4KgodSz8bCw

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Categories
Ailmemts & Remedies Pediatric

Failure to Thrive

Alternative Names: Growth failure; FTT (Faltering Growth)

Definition:
Failure to thrive is a description applied to babies or children whose current weight or rate of weight gain is significantly below that of others of similar age and sex.

….…….CLICK & SEE

From the moment they’re born, a baby’s weight and height are closely monitored. Health visitors provide health record booklets that include growth charts to help with this…..CLICK & SEE

In general, failure-to-thrive means that a child:
Is at or below the 3rd to 5th percentile for height and weight, or
Has failed to grow as expected, as shown by dropping two growth percentiles (For example, the child goes from the 75th percentile to below the 25th percentile.)

Failure to thrive may be caused by a variety of factors. Some children who fit this category appear lethargic, pale and miserable, while others seem fairly well.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
In the Deloped countries where chronic disease in childhood isn’t common, failure to thrive in infants may be a result of poor feeding techniques.

In older children, unhappy home circumstances and emotional problems are often to blame.

Infants or children that fail to thrive seem to be dramatically smaller or shorter than other children the same age. Teenagers may have short stature or appear to lack the usual changes that occur at puberty. However, there is a wide variation in normal growth and development.

In general, the rate of change in weight and height may be more important than the actual measurements.

It is important to determine whether failure to thrive results from medical problems or factors in the environment, such as abuse or neglect.

There are multiple medical causes of failure to thrive. These include:

*Chromosome abnormalities such as Down syndrome and Turner syndrome

*Defects in major organ systems

*Problems with the endocrine system, such as thyroid hormone deficiency, growth hormone deficiency, or other hormone deficiencies

*Damage to the brain or central nervous system, which may cause feeding difficulties in an infant

*Heart or lung problems, which can affect how oxygen and nutrients move through the body

*Anemia or other blood disorders

*Gastrointestinal problems that result in malabsorption or a lack of digestive enzymes

*Long-term gastroenteritis and gastroesophageal reflux (usually temporary)
Cerebral palsy

*Long-term (chronic) infections

*Metabolic disorders

*Complications of pregnancy and low birth weight

Other factors that may lead to failure to thrive:

*Emotional deprivation as a result of parental withdrawal, rejection, or hostility

*Economic problems that affect nutrition, living conditions, and parental attitudes

*Exposure to infections, parasites, or toxins

*Poor eating habits, such as eating in front of the television and not having formal meal times

Some Other Causes:

*Problems with milk feeds
Breastmilk is the best choice for newborns and babies should thrive on it. But some new mothers and their babies struggle to latch on and get a good technique going. Health visitors can offer advice on this and appropriate formula feeds, if necessary.

If you’re formula feeding but your baby isn’t growing as they should, check you’re following the manufacturer’s instructions for making up the feed exactly (not too dilute) and that your baby is able to get the milk as fast as they need to (check the teat size).

*Dietary problems
Children may be unable to absorb food into their bodies because of problems with their gut, such as parasitic infections, malabsorption, liver disease or milk sensitivity (usually temporary).

Coeliac disease, which causes diarrhoea with foul-smelling faeces and anaemia, is another explanation for failure to thrive. It’s caused by a reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat and similar proteins in other grains.

*Genetic causes
There are many different inherited conditions that can mean a child fails to thrive, such as chromosomal problems.

The most common of all genetic factors isn’t an illness but simply the fact that the parents are also small, so it’s normal for that family. This is sometimes known as constitutional short stature and, of course, no treatment is needed.

What’s important is that the child is growing at a steady rate, following a line on the growth charts parallel to the average child, even if continually smaller than average.

*Problems in the womb
Some children born with a low weight as a result of some factor during pregnancy will continue to have problems catching up. This is more likely if the growth retardation happened early in the pregnancy.

If the mother has high blood pressure, smokes, drinks alcohol or takes certain medications it can affect her baby’s growth in the womb. Maternal infections, such as rubella and toxoplasmosis, can also result in low birth weight.

*Chronic or repeated illness
Any illness in a child temporarily slows growth. While many catch up, repeated illness, even coughs and colds, can affect growth in the long term.

Serious illness is more likely to affect growth, from chronic infections such as TB to major heart abnormalities, deficiencies of hormones such as thyroid or growth hormone, lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, and kidney disease.

*Psychological problems
Sometimes there’s no apparent physical explanation for why a child is failing to thrive until home circumstances are carefully probed.

Social deprivation, especially if a child’s emotional needs are being neglected, can lead to growth problems even in the first few months of life.

Many times the cause cannot be determined.

Symptoms:-
Infants or children who fail to thrive have a height, weight, and head circumference that do not match standard growth charts. The person’s weight falls lower than 3rd percentile (as outlined in standard growth charts) or 20% below the ideal weight for their height. Growing may have slowed or stopped after a previously established growth curve.

The following are delayed or slow to develop:

*Physical skills such as rolling over, sitting, standing and walking

*Mental and social skills

*Secondary sexual characteristics (delayed in adolescents)

Signs and tests:-
The doctor will perform a physical exam and check the child’s height, weight, and body shape. A detailed history is taken, including prenatal, birth, neonatal, psychosocial, and family information.

A Denver Developmental Screening Test reveals delayed development. A growth chart outlining all types of growth since birth is created.

The following laboratory tests may be done:

*Complete blood count (CBC)

*Electrolyte balance

*Hemoglobin electrophoresis to determine the presence of conditions such as sickle cell disease

*Hormone studies, including thyroid function tests

*X-rays to determine bone age

*Urinalysis

Treatment:
The treatment depends on the cause of the delayed growth and development. Delayed growth due to nutritional factors can be resolved by educating the parents to provide a well-balanced diet.

If psychosocial factors are involved, treatment should include improving the family dynamics and living conditions. Parental attitudes and behavior may contribute to a child’s problems and need to be examined. In many cases, a child may need to be hospitalized initially to focus on implementation of a comprehensive medical, behavioral, and psychosocial treatment plan.

Do not give your child dietary supplements like Boost or Ensure without consulting your physician first.

Prognosis:
If the period of failure to thrive has been short, and the cause is determined and can be corrected, normal growth and development will resume. If failure to thrive is prolonged, the effects may be long lasting, and normal growth and development may not be achieved.

Complications:
Permanent mental, emotional, or physical delays can occur.

Prevention:
The best means of prevention is by early detection at routine well-baby examinations and periodic follow-up with school-age and adolescent children.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/babies2.shtml
http://healthtools.aarp.org/adamcontent/failure-to-thrive/2
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/camfak_syndrome/book-diseases-4a.htm

http://www.beliefnet.com/healthandhealing/getcontent.aspx?cid=11872

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Ailmemts & Remedies Pediatric

Babies Crying

Introduction:
It is a commonplace experience for all parents to observe their babies crying endlessly. Everyone knows that when babies feel discomfort or any kind of pain they resort to crying to convey their message.Crying is the most effective way babies have of communicating their needs.

…CLICK & SEE

In fact crying is a natural phenomenon for babies and the first few months of life almost all babies cry to prove their needs as they lack the skill of language.Most babies spend as much as seven per cent of the day crying.

It can take parents some time to learn to recognise what a baby’s cries mean. But by about four to six months most are able to differentiate between a cry of pain from a grizzle of hunger or a whine of boredom.

Most tiny babies have episodes of crying, which is often a sign of discomfort such as colic, but the cause often isn’t proven. Even by the age of nine months, one in four babies has episodes of crying for no obvious cause.

But sometimes when the child cries in a chronic fashion this can prove to be a worrying factor for the parents. It is imperative for one to know why babies cry without pause sometimes or what can be done to stop that incident. When babies cry endlessly one needs to first check out the obvious reasons that is if the child is wet or hungry. Often colic is thought to be another probable reason for babies crying endlessly.

How to Differentiate?
As a matter of fact, babies cry for almost 7% of the time of a day. The parents of a baby can usually take some time to make out the meanings of the baby’s crying. It is more so with a newborn. But as the child grows up, things get easier. When the kid is about six months old, the parents can clearly distinguish between a cry of hunger and a cry of pain or irritation. Babies crying endlessly, which can be considered excessive crying, sounds different from normal cry. There are some babies, who whine even when they are 9 month’s old for no specific reason.

In fact on careful listening one can distinguish between a child crying normally and the endless crying of a distressed baby. Such crying often has an unusual sound and the baby finds it tough to breathe or breathe in short grasps. An experienced ear may easily demarcate between both the sounds and decide if the child needs medical intervention.

Reasons  of  Crying:
Babies can not talk like the grown up human beings as they lack the skill of language. Therefore crying is only natural for them to communicate their requirements and problems. It might indicate the child is suffering from a physical problem or feeling distressed. In these cases, the breathing pattern may become uneven and the child may gasp for breath at times. Medical problems and minor hassles like a nappy rash may also cause excessive crying.

Some babies may also resort to crying to draw attention and if the parents respond they develop a habit. In some cases, turmoil in the family can cause stress to a child and he or she can cry profusely. Also, in most households, the babies are accustomed to a particular schedule of feeding and sleeping. If it is disrupted for some reasons the babies can cry for prolonged periods

When the teeth starts growing in babies they have to go through a number of symptoms like moderate fever, sleep disorders and these can make the babies crying endlessly during the period. Sometimes, chemicals and toxic elements can pass through the mother’s body to the child during breastfeeding. This can happen when the mother eats a food that has chemicals.

It can cause irritations in the baby’s body and he or she might start crying profusely. A parent should also be careful when a baby is continuously crying and treat him or her for ailments such as otitis media or infection of the middle ear. Meninigities of gastro enteritities are other causes which can cause a baby to cry continuously.

Causes Behind the Cry:
It’s important to be alert for medical problems, especially infections such as otitis media (infection of the middle ear), gastroenteritis, meningitis or a respiratory tract infection, as well as problems ranging from severe nappy rash to rarer conditions such as intussusception or a strangulated hernia.

If you’re worried, especially if there are abnormal signs such as a skin rash or a fever, get medical advice.

Inconsolable crying is often put down to colic, but there’s no definite test for it. It tends to affect babies for the first three to four months. They may show signs of tummy pain, such as pulling their legs up to their abdomen, while others pass a lot of wind.

Ask your health visitor for advice on your baby’s diet and your own if you’re breastfeeding. Some foods, such as cow’s milk, citrus fruits or grapes, seem to aggravate colic. When the mother eats these, chemicals from the food may pass into her breast milk and reach the baby.

Signs of teething include crying, alongside gnawing, mild fever, sleep problems and mild diarrhoea. The first tooth usually appears at about four months.

Often though, the cause is more benign. Some babies are sensitive to tensions within the family or to changes in routine. Others just need a lot of attention or company. Some babies just seem to cry for no obvious reason.

Possible explanations include birth trauma, an attempt to release stress, liking the sound of their voice and simply a baby’s personality.

How to solve the problem :
Parents need to eliminate all the probable causes that can make Babies crying endlessly. They need to see if the baby is feeling the pangs of hunger. They also need to check out if the baby’s nappy has become cold or wet. Babies love a warm and snugly feel around them. Their clothing should not make them feel too hot or cold. Some babies prefer company of people and some others prefer to be alone.

The parents should try to make out what suits their child the best. Besides, music is something that affects different babies differently. While some babies have a penchant for music, others detest it strongly. The parents need to keep the child in a suitable environment. If none of the aforesaid policies work, the parents of a whining baby may consult a child specialist and follow his advices.

Small babies need to be snugly wrapped in clothes in a moderately warm environment. In their cot, they need thin layers they can kick off if hot. Babies don’t need to wear a hat indoors. Babies don’t need to wear a hat indoors.

Some babies find it hard to settle into a routine, while others can’t get themselves off to sleep easily. It takes babies around 12 weeks for brainwave patterns to develop a regular routine.

Some babies just need to be left in a safe spot in a quiet, dark, warm room, while others want to be held, massaged and stroked. Some like silence, while others prefer a tape of music.

Some infants just like to be held constantly. Try carrying them round on your back or front held secure in a cloth or sling.

A regular routine of bath, feed and song seems to be most successful.

When there’s no answer:
If all possible causes can be ruled out and you’re desperate for a rest, put your baby somewhere warm and safe, such as in their cot, and close the door. Go into another room and listen to music or the TV, or practise stretching and breathing exercises.

It’s difficult not to get anxious, and you may want to listen at their door or peep in after a few minutes – try to leave longer and longer breaks between each check.

Some babies will suddenly stop crying endlessly as mysteriously as they started, while others take months, or even years, to grow out of it.

Make sure you get plenty of breaks and rest. Find help wherever you can and take up any offer of help from family or reliable friends.

If you find you’re still struggling, talk to your GP or health visitor. Ask for help before you reach crisis point.

Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/crying2.shtml
http://www.ayushveda.com/healthcare/babies-crying-endlessly.htm
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/baby_crying_closeup.jpg

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