All too often, new parents struggle with the uncertainty about whether or not their baby’s sickness require immediate medical attention or when worrisome symptoms might be wrongly interpreted as something worse than it actually is.
Adding to that point, infant patients are usually a unique challenge to emergency department (ED) physicians as it could be hard to differentiate between potentially dangerous pathology and the many spectrum of normal infant signs, symptoms and behaviour.
It’s no surprise why most parents get worried and anxious when their babies get sick or start showing signs or symptoms that might be considered as alarming.
Their first instinct is to bring their babies to the emergency department, even when it’s not that urgent.
"It can be helpful if parents are counselled about what to expect over the first few days of life," Dr Zachary Drapkin of the University of Utah in Salt Lake City
This infographic will teach you how to differentiate between normal or alarming symptoms of some of the most common chief complaints of neonates and young infants presenting to ED.
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Click here to download this infographic.
While the answer is not always simple, knowing the difference could save you the hassle and anxiety.
But in the end, you should learn to trust your gut,
“If your personal instinct or your motherly intuition tells you it’s serious, don’t hesitate — go to the nearest emergency room.”
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Reference:
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Drapkin, Z., Franchek-Roa, K., Srinivas, G., Buchi, K. and Miescier, M. (2019). Is my baby normal? A review of seemingly worrisome but normal newborn signs, symptoms and behaviors. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine.
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CNA. (2019). Parents bring newborns to A&E for many non-urgent reasons: US study. [online] Available at: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/health/when-to-bring-newborn-baby-to-hospital-emergency-11483530?cid=FBcna.
Image credit:
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https://www.baby-chick.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Worried-mom-talks-with-her-childs-pediatrician-676570498_1258x838.jpeg
