When a baby is born, they enter the world while being healthy. But, sometimes infants develop infections. Infections can make them go through a lot of medical tests and treatments. Newborns are particularly susceptible to certain diseases. They catch infections more quickly than adults and older children. Their immune systems are not adequately developed. As a result, they easily get sick and need to spend some time in hospital. Infections or diseases often make them spend some hours in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Although it can be frightening to see a baby getting hospitalized, a hospital stay is often the best way to help them recover from that particular disease.

If you are expecting your baby and want to look for a space where you and your baby can be protected, consider looking for a doctor at Lotus Hospital. The hospital has laid its foundation with global standards. It has grown to a platform where patients are treated with wholesome values. The Lotus Hospital allows doctors to provide hassle-free treatment to all their patients.

What are the major signs you should look for?

Many infections show similar symptoms. If your newborn is showing some symptoms of coughing or sneezing, immediately consult a doctor. Ask for the signs that could be the symptom of any disease. However, certain signs can help you recognize the health of your newborn:

• Poor feeding
• Persistent crying
• Breathing difficulty
• Decreased or increase in temperature
• Unusual skin rash
• Change in skin color

A marked change in the baby’s behavior could be a sign of a problem with them. Track their sleeping and feeding habits. It is one of the major indicators to check the baby’s health. These signs generally help to understand the health of a newborn if the baby is less than 2 months. Moreover, to ensure good health, visit your doctor or pediatric care provider to suspect the disease.

Following are some of the common infections that may happen with a newborn baby:

• Group B Streptococcal Disease (GBS)

Group B streptococcus is a commonly found bacterium. It often causes infection in newborns. Some of the common illnesses that are mainly caused by this type of bacteria are sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis. Babies often carry these types of diseases from their mothers. Many pregnant women carry such bacteria in their vagina or rectum. This can easily pass to the baby which further needs to be treated with antibiotics. This can happen within a few weeks of the delivery or during the first week of life. Moreover, there can be a mix of symptoms like trouble in breathing, a high temperature, unusual crankiness, and listlessness.

This type of infection may require the doctor to have a blood test and urine test. Infections caused by GBS need to be treated with antibiotics. The babies in this condition need careful watch and monitoring of their health.

• Listeriosis

This infection is caused due to another common bacteria called Listeria monocytogenes. This type of bacteria can further lead to diseases such as pneumonia, sepsis, and meningitis in newborns. Such bacteria are found in soil, fruits, and vegetables. It can happen in certain cases where the food is not properly cleaned. However, this bacteria can be caught through mothers while being pregnant. Diseases caused by this type of bacteria are similar to that of GBS. Babies born with this disease need to provide fluid tests or blood tests. It can be treated with the help of certain antibiotics but needs a stay in hospital.

• E. Coli Infection

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is another bacterial that creates some of the common diseases in a newborn. It can lead to urinary tract infections, sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia. The fact is that everyone carries the bacterium E. coli on their bodies. But, when the woman is pregnant, it can increase the chances of infection in a baby. This type of bacterium can also be passed during the hospital stay. Babies who develop infections due to E. Coli particularly have fragile immune systems. They become vulnerable to getting sick. Symptoms may usually include fussiness, lack of interest in feeding, listlessness, etc. 

• Meningitis

Meningitis can be caused by fungi, bacteria, or viruses. These may include GBS, E.Coli and Listeria. Newborns can attract any of these pathogens during their birth. Some of these bacteria are present in the environment or they can also catch the same from the surroundings. The baby being born possesses a weak immune system. And a weak immune system becomes susceptible to various infections. Symptoms of such infections are not specific. However, the baby can show some of these symptoms like:

• Irritability
• Sleeping more than usual
• Refusing to take milk from breast or bottle
• Low or unstable body temperature
• Lethargy
• Breathing problems
• Vomiting
• Rashes
• Diarrhea

Meningitis is a serious medical condition. It may require the doctor to insert a needle into the spine to withdraw the sample. However, the treatment depends on how it was caused. The baby may be required to spend a period in the hospital with intensive supportive care.

• Sepsis

Sepsis is another serious condition that may require the baby to have a stay in hospital. It is caused by the spread of germs throughout the blood. It can be caused by fungi, viruses, bacteria, or parasites. Some of these infectious agents are acquired at the time of birth. A baby born with sepsis may have trouble in feeding, jaundice, breathing problems, extreme fussiness, etc.

• Candidiasis

It is caused by the overgrowth of the common yeast candida. Candida is the type of bacterium that is found in everyone’s body. But, it may lead to some fungal infections. Babies born with this infection may show a diaper rash. This can also cause the baby to develop oral thrush in the mouth and throat. Some of the other symptoms attached to this infection include cracks around the sides of lips, white patches on the tongue, lips, inside the cheeks, etc. Candidiasis can also be caught during the time of birth or through the mother’s vagina or during breastfeeding. 

• Congenital Infections

Many infections are caught by the newborns at the time of delivery or during pregnancy. And because the baby is born with them, they are called congenital infections. They are either caused by viruses or parasites. This may include HIV, rubella, chickenpox, herpes, toxoplasmosis, and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Many of these infections are acquired through the mother. There are certain cases where babies catch these infections and later exhibit their effects. However, the transmission of infection doesn’t always occur. There can be chances that babies born with these infections may don’t bear the infection themselves.

Conclusion:

A woman can protect herself and the baby by making sure that:

• She is immunized against certain types of infections
• By thoroughly washing clothes, cooking food, and regularly washing hands before picking or touching the baby
• By having safe sex and avoiding sexually transmitted diseases that further can lead to congenital infections.

A doctor may recommend some preventive measures that form the routine part of pregnancy and safe delivery. Also, an expected mother is allowed to check the swab of a test late in pregnancy to check whether she is carrying GBS. There are many tests to diagnose the blood and body of an expected mother and check whether she is carrying any bacterium or not. Your doctor at Lotus Hospital will help you get a routine check of your body. The doctors at Lotus Hospital are trained, certified, and are well versed with their respective knowledge to treat the baby and mother with care.