Caring for a baby can be as stressful as it is joyful, especially when it comes to their health. Pharmacy teams can be on hand to offer support and advice for a wide range of conditions, including ones that parents may be less familiar with, to help them feel prepared

When it comes to caring for babies, there are some conditions that get discussed regularly: colic, constipation, nappy rash and teething, to name a few. But while understanding how to manage these is central for keeping parents happy and babies comfortable, there are some conditions that are generally discussed to a lesser extent, but are arguably just as, if not more, important to be aware of and understand. 

Pharmacy teams can be on hand to offer parents measured advice and information on a multitude of conditions that affect babies – how to identify them, the dos and don’ts of management, ways to treat them where possible, and in some cases how to help to prevent them.

Croup

A common viral infection of the airways in children between the ages of six months and three years, croup is characterised by a barking cough that sounds like a seal, hoarseness, difficulty breathing and a rasping sound when breathing in. These symptoms are often worse at night. Often cold-like symptoms such as a temperature, runny nose and a cough appear initially, followed by croup symptoms a few days later.

Croup is usually mild and gets better on its own within 48 hours, however parents should be advised to ring NHS 111 if the condition is suspected, as treatment and/or observation may be needed.

Do:

• Stay calm
• Comfort the child if they are distressed as crying can make the symptoms worse 
• Sit them upright
• Give them plenty of fluids.

Don’t:

• Put them in a steamy room or get them to inhale steam 
• Give them cough or cold medicine.

Note that children with croup who have difficulty with breathing should be referred directly to hospital.

Fifth disease

Also known as slapped cheek syndrome or parvovirus B19, fifth disease is a virus that commonly affects children. It is not usually serious and should clear up on its own in around three weeks. 

Children will often feel unwell for a few days with symptoms such as a high temperature of 38°C or more, a runny nose, sore throat and a headache. A bright red rash may appear on both cheeks, looking as though the cheeks have been slapped – hence the name. A few days later, a lighter-coloured rash may appear on the body, which can be itchy. These rashes usually fade within two weeks. Individuals are no longer contagious once the rashes develop. While there is no vaccine or treatment, frequent hand washing can help to reduce the risk of passing on the infection.

Do:

• Ensure the child gets lots of rest
• Continue normal feeds
• Give children’s paracetamol at a dose suitable for their age and/or weight, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions to control the high temperature
• Moisturise itchy skin.

Impetigo 

A highly contagious skin condition, impetigo is common in children and is not usually serious, although it typically requires treatment. The infection is characterised by red sores or blisters, often on the face and hands, which burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches that can look like cornflakes. These patches can be itchy and painful, get bigger and spread to other parts of the body. 

Do: 

• Keep the affected areas clean and dry 
• Keep away from nursery, school or childminders until there is no more blistering and crusting, or until 48 hours after antibiotic treatment has started 
• Wash hands frequently 
• Wash all clothing, sheets and towels at a high temperature 
• Wipe or wash toys with detergent and warm water. 

Don’t:

• Touch or scratch the affected areas 
• Share bathwater, sheets, towels, etc.  
• Referral to a GP is necessary for treatment, which is usually an antibiotic cream that will speed up recovery. In severe cases, antibiotic tablets or liquid may be needed. 

Group B strep

A type of streptococcal bacteria, Group B strep – also known as strep B – is commonly found in the body and is usually harmless. However, in rare cases, it can cause serious infections in babies including sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis. Early diagnosis is essential. Yet according to the charity Group B Strep Support, many pregnant women feel inadequately informed about the illness, demonstrating the need to pass on vital information.

If pregnant women have group B strep during pregnancy, their baby will usually be healthy, however there’s an extremely small chance of miscarriage and a small risk that it could spread to the baby during labour and make them very ill. On average, two babies a day develop the infection, with one a week dying and one a week being left with a life-changing disability.

Two-thirds of babies who develop group B strep become unwell during the first six days of life, and usually within the first 12 hours after birth, which is known as early-onset. Symptoms usually present as sepsis with pneumonia and include:

• Being floppy and/or unresponsive
• Grunting, moaning and noisy breathing
• Inconsolable crying
• Not feeding well or keeping milk down
• An unusually high or low temperature
• Changes in the colour of their skin, which can be blotchy
• Abnormally fast or slow breathing and/or heart rate.

Late-onset group B strep infection is less common. It can affect babies between seven days and three months of age, and the symptoms are similar to those for early-onset of infection.

There are no known ways to prevent group B strep infection after a baby is born so knowing the signs and accessing early and aggressive treatment is key.

Signposting suggestion: Group B Strep Support.

Meningitis and sepsis

Meningitis is an extremely serious condition where the tissues around the brain and spinal cord become inflamed as a result of a bacterial or viral infection. It can affect anyone but is most common in babies and children under five, as well as teenagers.

The bacterial infection that causes meningitis also commonly causes the blood infection sepsis and the symptoms are similar. They can appear in any order and develop suddenly, although not all of them may be experienced:

• A high temperature
• Being sick
• Cold hands and feet
• Confusion
• Breathing quickly
• Muscle and joint pain
• Pale, mottled or blotchy skin
• A rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it. Note that the rash can be harder to see on dark skin, so paler areas, such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, roof of the mouth, tummy, whites of the eyes or the inside of the eyelids, should be checked
• A headache
• A stiff neck
• A dislike of bright lights
• Drowsiness or unresponsiveness
• Seizures.

Babies may also:

• Refuse feeds
• Be irritable
• Have a high-pitched cry
• Have a stiff body or be floppy or unresponsive
• Have a bulging fontanelle on the top of their head.

Note that the rash that many people know to be characteristic of meningitis does not always appear. As meningitis and sepsis are medical emergencies, people should be advised to trust their instincts and get urgent medical attention without waiting for a rash to develop.

Signposting suggestions:

• Meningitis Now
• Meningitis Research Foundation 
• The Sepsis Trust.