Common Health Problems In Children Under 1 Year Old

Every parent with a small baby is sure to be interested in what the usual health problems of those under 1 year of age are. Next, we list nine diseases, at least one of which is likely to become familiar in every family with children.

Many of these health problems require immediate medical attention because of the baby’s undeveloped resistance.

Common health problems in children under 1 year of age

Under the age of 1, a person is prone to respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases. Usually, these diseases are caused by viruses or bacteria. Next, we list the most typical small child health problems.

1. Influenza

The cause is the flu virus, and this infection spreads easily. Often it disappears on its own, and the symptoms include fever, cough, nasal congestion, headache, malaise, muscle aches and sometimes vomiting.

Influenza is one of the most common illnesses in children under 1 year of age and requires medical attention.

2. Bronchitis

This means inflammation of the bronchi, which is most often caused by a poorly cured flu. A child may have a lot of mucus and cough.

Remember that bronchitis is spread through the mouth, that is, by contact with an infected person.

On the other hand, there is a sudden (acute) bronchitis caused by bacterial and viral infections of the airways, which affects the nose, throat, and buccal cavities.

Some children may have chronic bronchitis, symptoms of which include profuse cough and mucus.

3. Pneumonia

In this case, there is inflammation in the lungs, and in a disorder less than 6 months old, the disease is caused by the pneumococcal bacterium.

Symptoms of pneumonia include high fever, cough, profuse mucus, chills, pain, and difficulty breathing. It requires careful care as well as hospitalization.

4. Pharyngitis

The main cause of this disease is streptococcal bacteria, but viruses can also be the cause. Inflammation of the tonsils causes inflammation of the tonsils, sore throat, headache, fever, and difficulty eating. The problem is very common in babies when they start putting different things in their mouths.

5. Urinary tract infections

A child may have this type of inflammation if he or she is under 2 years of age and suffers from a fever for which there is no clear cause. You will be able to find out by a urine test at home – if the result is positive, your doctor will perform a urine culture and give you appropriate treatment. Sometimes the condition may require hospitalization.

6. Diarrhea

This is also a common disease in children under 1 year of age. It is usually caused by a virus or contaminated food. The patient defecates very often with liquid stools and has abdominal pain.

It is necessary to keep the baby hydrated. Give her plenty of fluids and continue breastfeeding and other feeding. If symptoms persist, consult a physician with the baby.

7. Acute intestinal inflammation

Acute intestinal inflammation, or stomach flu, means inflammation in the digestive and intestinal tract. Ingestion of contaminated food or water is usually the cause, and symptoms include watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, intestinal pain, fever, and fatigue.

If your child has these symptoms for 48 hours, take him or her to a doctor. At home, great care must be taken, and plenty of fluids should be given to avoid dehydration.

If you are breastfeeding, continue with this, and if your baby is already enjoying solid foods, you can adjust your diet a bit.

8. Ear inflammation

According to experts, more than 80% of children develop otitis during the first two years of life, which is a very common early childhood ailment.

Ear inflammation is caused by microorganisms living in any part of the ear. These microbes cause inflammation that produces severe pain. Where otitis media affects the ear canal behind the eardrum and possibly also the ear canal and appendix, the ear canal inflammation is located in the external ear canal.

The most obvious symptom of ear infection is ear pain, which can include ear locking, itching, and secretion of ear wax. 

9. Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis is an inflammatory disease of the small bronchi, or airways, in children under 1 year of age.  The most common cause of bronchiolitis in children is the RS virus. The symptoms of the disease are very similar to the symptoms of the flu.

Bronchiolitis usually begins as an upper respiratory tract infection but worsens within a few days. If your baby suffers from flu-like symptoms that get worse within days, it is important to take him to the doctor. The main symptoms of bronchiolitis are chest pain, mucous cough, fatigue, fever, difficulty breathing and wheezing.

In Finland, bronchiolitis is the most common disease leading to hospitalization of children under one year of age.

This will reduce the risk of your baby becoming ill

On the plus side, all of the common health problems we list under the age of 1 are treatable. Ideally, all diseases are avoided and the treatment phase is never overcome. Unfortunately, such a situation is less common, but efforts can be made to prevent a child from becoming ill through simple action.

A baby under one year of age should be kept away from people infected with viruses or bacteria. During the first month of life, it is worth limiting the number of visitors.

It is important to maintain good hygiene both at home and elsewhere, and everyone should wash their hands before touching a child. In addition, recommended vaccination schedules should be followed.