Question
Symptom Description: For the past three days, the baby suddenly doesn’t want to breastfeed. Before, they would feed every 2-3 hours, but now it’s every 7-8 hours. When feeding, they cry, are hungry, and keep eating their hands. They also seem restless and sleepy. On August 3rd, the baby had a cold with a fever, but now they don’t have a fever anymore; just phlegm in the throat. Previous Treatment and Effectiveness: Given antipyretics, the fever has subsided. Seeking Help: Is the child sick?
Answer
Based on your description of the symptoms, the baby seems to have a respiratory infection, although this condition is generally viral. You can give them some pediatric expectorant cough syrup along with ribavirin. During this time, make sure they drink plenty of water and consume fresh fruit and vegetable juices. If breastfeeding, the mother should avoid spicy and irritating foods. Wishing the baby a speedy recovery. If the baby is restless and sleepy, the mother should not be negligent as this might be a sign of discomfort in the baby. Some babies catch a cold or have other discomforts such as wet diapers or improper clothing, or issues with the surrounding environment. Babies are too young to express themselves through language or clearly point out where the problem lies; they can only communicate through crying and fussing.