Hervey Bay Local Health News

Nappy rash, sometimes called napkin dermatitis occurs most often in infants 6-12 months of age. Most babies will have nappy rash at some time during infancy. A baby’s skin is much softer and thinner than an adult’s. Contact of urine or bowel motions with the skin and infrequent nappy changes can irritate, causing nappy rash. Advice from a pharmacist can help in both treating and preventing nappy rash from occurring.

Important
See a doctor if the:
*    Rash spreads outside the nappy area
*    Rash is no better after five days of treatment (see over)
*    Skin is broken and the rash is severe
*    Rash shows signs of an infection
*    Baby also has a fever, is irritable, is not eating well or generally seems ill.

Signs and symptoms
Simple nappy rash is a burn-like rash where the nappy touches the bottom. It is red, slightly rough, and scaly.
*   Fungal infection is common, usually with thrush (candida). This causes a brighter red, shiny rash with sharply outlined patches, often with smaller spots out of the main area. Unlike a simple nappy rash, the creases of the skin may also be red.
*    If the rash does not clear and the skin becomes broken, the area can become infected with bacteria - weeping or yellow crusting may be present (see a doctor if this happens).  

(more…)

All babies cry some of the time. It is their way of communicating they are hungry, they want to be held, or are uncomfortable. It can be difficult and tiring coping with a baby who cries a lot.

It helps to know that if it is colic, it will usually stop by about three months and there will be no long-term effects. It also helps to know that if your baby has colic you are not alone - it has been suggested that up to one quarter of all babies have colic at some time. There is help available for both the parent and the baby.

Signs and symptoms
A baby with colic cries for hours, usually in the late afternoon or evening.

The baby pulls its legs up, clenches its fists, screams and turns red as if in pain.

None of the usual methods (picking up baby, feeding, changing nappy) seem to comfort the child.

What causes colic?
No one really knows for sure what causes infant colic. Possible causes may include:
*    Pain due to spasms of the intestine or due to wind.
*    The baby’s intestines have not yet fully matured.
*    The baby is anxious.
*    The baby senses the parent’s worry.
*    Allergy or intolerance to certain foods (taken by baby or mother).

There may also be a link between parents’ smoking and colic. Lactose intolerance or cow’s milk allergy are often blamed for crying in babies, but these are rare and unlikely to be a cause.

Important
See your doctor if your baby also has:
*    Blood in their bowel motions
*     Blood or a green tinge in their vomit
*     Loss of appetite
*     Woken up over and over in the night, screaming with pain not related to feeding
*     Vomiting and/or diarrhoea that is getting worse or has lasted for more than 24 hours
*     Constipation
*     Changed from being alert when awake, to being sluggish
*     Severe, long lasting swelling of the belly
*     A high temperature (38°C or more)

Common causes of crying
*    Wet nappy or nappy rash
*    Hunger               
*    Too hot or too cold
*    Need to suck       
*    Wind
*    Colic                    
*    Overtired
*    Need to be cuddled
(more…)