The human infant is among the weakest and certainly the most dependent (for the longest time) of all animal young. The number of disorders and mishaps to which children are susceptible is immense-yet, somehow, millions of children grow up happily and become healthy, productive adults. This section is concerned with the major disorders of childhood not covered in other chapters.
Good pediatric medicine is preventative as well as curative. The important aspects of a healthful life for children include the following: adequate nutrition (a diet high in proteins for growth and carbohydrates and fats for energy, but not so much as to cause overweight); physical exercise and play (stimulate growth and development, improve resistance to illness, and allow the acquisition of life skills); intellectual stimulation (toys, games, educational materials, contact with people and places, good schooling, books, and so on); protection from accidents and proper medical care (regular checkups, immunizations, prompt treatment of illness and injury, emergency care); and an emotionally secure, loving, supportive, nurturing, relaxed homelife.
WELL-BABY VISITS: Every baby should be examined by a pediatrician once a month for the first year of life and every three months during the second year. At these well-baby visits, the doctor will examine the child for evidence of any infections, birth defects, abnormalities or other anomalies; will weigh and measure him and check on his growth and development; will immunize the child against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, measles, German measles, and mumps; will check the infant’s diet, give advice to parents, and treat any abnormal conditions as they arise.
INFANT-WHEN TO CALL THE MWTOR: If the baby is not looking or acting well; if he is pale, bluish, or yellow; is behaving oddly listless, lethargic, overly drowsy or excessively irritable, or unconscious; is having convulsions or is obviously in pain and cannot be comforted; has severe diarrhea or is vomiting persistently or coughing; is bleeding from the nose, ears, mouth, or navel or shows blood in his urine, stools, or vomit; has lost his appetite for more than a few feedings; or has injured his head and is not back to normal in ten or fifteen minutes call the doctor.
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