As winter is approaching and infants / children might start having all kind
of coughs and fever, it might be useful to repeat some facts which most of
my patients already know. Some details will be new to you.
In order not to make the mail to long, I will send more then one mail about
this subject.
Is a cold /cough [in]significant [ken o-lo chashuv] or is it a sign that a
doctor should be consulted?
I wrote you already-and I will sent a repeated article in the next
mail[s]-about breathing-frequency.[tadirut ha-neshima][kama neshimot
be-daka]
That one of the most important things to do in a sick child is to count the
breathing!!
First some words about infants under two to six months:
Any baby in the first few days of life having difficulty with breathing
should be considered to have a pneumonia [daleket re-ot] or bronchiolitis
[to know the difference is not important for the parents]
The following signs [any of them] may be manifest [ha simaniem ha-ba-iem
yecholiem le-hofia]: this refers especially to the first two months, but
also to older children.
Fast breathing [see next e-mail]
Chest in drawing [see next e-mail]
Grunting [neshima ne-enachat]: breathes in and the stops a bit and breathes
out with a grunt [interrupted breathing]
Cyanosis [kichalon]
Refusing [to weak] to nurse[if the baby nurses and refuses to eat ,even it
he/she was eating before already, this is of no significance]
Vomiting [ haka-ot], but even without this : less wet diapers in itself may
be a sign of a more serious problem.
Lethargy [ lo magiv tov]: more difficult to wake and less active and a weak
cry.
Fever or even more significant then a fever :low body temperature
[hypothermia]
An axillary temperature [beit ha-shechi] below 35.5 is certainly a sign of
hypothermia. Hypothermia is dangerous!!
[Should be normally between 36.5 to 37.5][Don't bother to take the rectal
temperature]
Convulsions[hitkafsuot]
Young children easily become cold, so prevent heat loss by wrapping them in
enough warm and feel the hands and feet often to see if they are warm.
Cold legs are certainly not a good sign, certainly from the foot to the knee
[ a sign of a poor circulation ]
IF THE BABY PERFORM HIS NORMAL FUNCTIONS THEN IS FOR SURE NO SERIOUS ILLNESS
GOING ON.
Please, remember the golden rule: any child which is nursing more or less
normal, never has a serious disease at that moment, even with a high
temperature!!
If a baby feeds less then half as usual in the preceding 24 hours is likely
to be seriously ill.
Difficult breathing with a respiratory grunt [neshima kasha meluwa
be-neshima ne-enachat] is also a sign of a serious respiratory problem.
Vomiting ,diarrhea[ shilshul] and cough are not perse [by themselelves[lo
bewadai] signs of serious disease.
Far more important are signs of drowsiness, much more sleepiness then normal
or a weak cry.
If the temperature is low then take special care to cover the head in a
baby!! Keep the room temperature at 25 degrees at least.
Overheating is also not advisable [sweat], the baby may become restless,
irritable and crying a lot
Rubbing the chest or breast of a baby with olive oil or sesamy oil may be a
good idea to keep it warm at night.
A small baby [ especially when born with a low weight] may be warmed very
well by keeping it close to the mother, between her breasts ["kangaroo"]
