Baby’s summer health worries

Despite all the precautions you’ve taken, your baby has nevertheless fallen victim to the summer heat.

Here are some of the most common health problems that baby could encounter over summer, and what to do about them.

Baby’s had a touch too much of summer

• Sudamina: also called ‘miliaria’, this condition manifests itself as a skin rash, which is produced when the sweat glands become obstructed (through water retention). If it is just water retention, the rash will be transparent (crystalline miliaria): and this appears following a strong bout of fever or serious sunburn to exposed parts of baby’s body.
  
  Red miliaria (also known as prickly heat or heat rash) can also be occur. This is common in newborns and consists of tingling and small red spots around areas where perspiration is focused (underarms, creases in the neck, waist and chest). You should simply avoid excessive heat and humidity and adjust your baby’s clothing according to the air temperature (always go for cotton which allows skin to breathe).

• Sunburn: If your baby is exposed to the sun too long, his fragile skin will pay the price. Within 2 to 4 hours red patches appear along with itching. If the sunburn is bad, blistering will appear and your baby might even get a fever. Put some cold compresses on the affected area and some soothing after-sun cream. If the problem is acute, consult a doctor who can recommend an appropriate ointment. If there is fever, use paracetamol or ibuprofen to bring this back down.

• Heat stroke: headache, fever, dry, pale skin, misty eyes, nausea and vomiting: if your baby has these symptoms, she has been in conditions that are too hot or has stayed out in the sun too long. Put your baby in a fresh, cool room and moisten her body with a sponge, especially on the neck and wrists. Give your baby an antipyretic before taking her to a doctor as quickly as possible.

• Impetigo: this is a contagious skin infection caused by bacteria – streptococcal or staphylococcus – and requires antibiotics. With impetigo, there will be blistering of the skin and a presence of pus and encrusted skin. Generally, impetigo strikes babies in their first week (but it can occur later as well). It is provoked by an overly high body temperature so is more common during hot weather. Make sure you don’t cover your baby up too much, and especially not with wool, which blocks the skin’s pores.

Other possible summer risks for baby’s health

There are two other minor illnesses that are more likely to manifest themselves in summer: herpes labialis and conjunctivitis.

• Herpes labilais: causes small spots on the lips and on the oral muscosa, and these transform into sores which take a week to heal. To protect against infections and rashes caused by the sun, make sure that you put some protective lotion, and even factor 30 sun cream on your baby’s lips every time you take him to the beach or swimming pool. And avoid kissing your baby if a case of skin herpes has already become apparent. There are many products to treat the problem and limit the virus being passed on. In general, these are oral drugs prescribed by doctors as soon as symptoms appear.

• Conjunctivitis: causes small patches around the eye area, and irritates the eyes making them weep profusely. The sun and swimming pool use causes 20% increase in the number of such eye infections (due to viruses or bacteria). Babies’ eyes are at risk of being infected at public swimming pools or when they come into contact with water that hasn’t be properly treated. If your baby’s eyes are irritated, make sure that he doesn’t scratch them. To relieve a case of conjunctivitis, clean your baby’s eyes with saline solution. Do not use eye drops without seeking medical advice first.

Laurent Juillet

Copyright © 2010 Doctissimo

Posted 12.07.2011

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