Crying is a normal event in the
lives of all babies. When a baby comes out of the womb the first thing to do is
crying. By the first cry he will take some air in to the lungs for the first
time in their life. After delivery if the baby does not cry then it should be
initiated by slightly pinching or gently stocking the feet. From this it is
clear that the healthy baby should cry and it is a normal physiological event,
still sometimes it can upset the mother or family members.
We all know that a baby can't tell
his needs or troubles in words. The only way for him to communicate with
others is by crying. Babies show some other signs like feet kicking, hand
waving and head turning ECT. But the best way to take the attention of others
is by crying.
Excessive crying may not have a
firm definition because the crying habit changes from baby to baby and some
babies can be calmed easily but some are difficult to sooth.If crying is
distressing for the mother and home nurse it can be called excessive. Many a
times baby become quiet by giving breast milk or by carrying with a gentle rocking.
Sudden onset of excessive crying means baby is distressed and needs attention.
The causes of crying extend from simple reasons to life threatening conditions.
Hence crying of a baby should not be ignored.
Most of the time it is difficult to find the cause of the cry .Common causes is
discussed here for awareness.
Common reasons for crying:
1,Hunger:--
A hungry baby will cry till he
gets the milk. Here the old saying comes true �crying baby gets the milk'.
2,Wetting:--
Urination and defecation causes
some discomfort and results in crying till his parts are cleaned and made dry.
3,Company:--
Majority of the kids need
somebody near. If they feel lonely they cry. When their favorite doll
slips away from the grip they cry for help.
4,Tired:--
When the baby is tired after a
journey and unable to sleep just cry simply. They feel tired in uncomfortable surroundings
and due to unhealthy climate.
5,Heat & cold:--
If they feel too hot or too cold
they become restless and cry. Child is comfortable in a room with good
ventilation.
6,Tight clothing:--
Tight cloths especially during
warm climate are intolerable for kids. Tight elastic of the dress can also
produce soreness in the hip
region.
7,Dark room:--
When the baby wakes up from sleep
he needs some dim light. If there is darkness he will disturb the sleep of
parents by crying. Ofcourse he will be irritated by strong light resulting in
cry.
8,Mosquito:--
Yes, these creatures disturb the
sleep by their blood sucking and make the baby to cry.
9,Nasal blocking:--
Child may not be able to sleep
when there is a cold and go on crying till the passage is open.
10, Phlegm in throat:--
This also causes difficult
breathing resulting in cry. Often a typical sound can be heard with each
breath.
11,General aching:--
Generalised body ache with
restlessness is seen in flu and prodromal stages of some infectious diseases
can result in continuous cry.
12,Habitual cry:---Some babies
cry without any real cause ending the parents in agony. Many a times doctor is
called for help.
13,Nappy rash:-- If a tight and
wet nappy is kept for a long time results in this conditon.
Rash can also be due to some allergic reaction to the elastic material
of the nappy. When the rash appears it causes soreness and baby become
sleepless and cry. All other skin lesions like eczema, ecthyma,
candidiasis ECT also causes same problems.
14,Earache:--
Ear infection is common in wet climate.
The infection may spread from the throat. Ear infection can result in rupture
of ear drum causing discharge of pus. Eareache usually becomes worse at night
when lying down. Child will become restless with cry and may not allow you to
touch the ear. Some children with earache rub the affected ear frequently.
15,Colic:--
When the baby cry continuously
most of us diagnose it as colic. This roblem is still a topic for debate
because exact cause for colic is not known and diagnosis is also difficult to confirm.
Colic may be associated with rumbling and distention of abdomen. Child often
feels better when lying on abdomen. Some children may not allow you to touch
the abdomen. If the child cries continuously doctors help is needed.
16,Infections:--
All infections cause some kind of
pain or irritation resulting in cry. Infection may be anywhere in the body.
Usually it is associated with fever, redness and swelling.
17,Reactions to certain food:--
It is said that one man's food is
another man's poison. Some food articles can produce some allergic reactions.
Allergy is manifested in the form of redness, breathlessness, gastric symptoms
and continuous cry.
18,Hard stools:--
Constipated babies with hard
stools may cry when they get the urge for stool. Some children hesitate to pass
stool because of pain.
19,Gastro esophageal reflex:--
Her baby cries with spilling of
food after feeding. If this continues it may be due to gastroesophageal reflex.
This is due to failure of the lower part of esophagus to close after food
causing regurgitation from the stomach. It is difficult to diagnose this
condition and can be confirmed by giving ant reflex medicines.
20, Dentition:--
During dentition child becomes
restless with crying. Often associated with gastric troubles and diarrhea.
Some rare reasons
-----------------
1,Bowel obstruction:--
Bowel obstruction is associated
with severe pain and vomiting. Abdomen is distended with rumbling sound. Baby
is constipated with absence of flatus.
2, Septicemia:--
Invasion of pathogenic micro
organisms in to the blood is called septicemia. Fever is associated with this
condition.
3,Torsion of testes in male
kids:--
When a male baby cries
continuously his scrotum should be examined. Torsion of the testes produces
severe pain which will be worse by touching the affected testes. When the testes
are pressed upwards pain is releived. If this is not treated properly it can
damage the affected testes due to lack of blood supply.
4,Meningitis:--
Initially there may not be fever,
hence crying baby with alternate vacant stare and irritability should not be ignored.
Fontanel is bulging. Neck rigidity and seizures may appear later.
5,Retention of urine:--
Children with retention of urine
will have agonizing pain making them
restless.
7,Major injuries:--
Major injury to any parts of the
body causes pain. Occasionally children will fall while arraying and results in
head injury. Head injury is associated with reflex vomiting and convulsions.
Article by: Clem C. Benton, Jr.
http://www.12path.com/cb/Clem/