Page 1: How Babies Breathe Before Birth
- Before a baby is born, their lungs don’t work to breathe.
- The baby gets oxygen from the mother’s “placenta.”
- Blood goes through a special cord called the “umbilical cord” which has a special blood vessel that carries oxygen.
- There are also special “shunts” (like shortcuts) that help blood flow in the baby before birth.
Page 2-6: Heart Problems in Babies
- Some babies are called “pink babies” because they don’t look blue. They have heart problems like VSD, ASD, and PDA.
- Other babies are called “blue babies” (cyanotic) because their skin can look blue. They have heart problems like TOF and Transposition of Great Arteries.
- PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus): This is when a special blood vessel doesn’t close after birth.
- It can sometimes be closed with medicine called “Indomethacin.”
- Sometimes, it needs surgery if it doesn’t close on its own.
- ASD (Atrial Septal Defect): This is a hole between the top parts of the heart.
- It can sometimes close on its own, but sometimes needs surgery.
- TOF (Tetralogy of Fallot): This is a group of four heart problems.
- Babies with TOF might look blue and get tired easily.
- Their heart can look “boot-shaped” on an X-ray.
- They usually need surgery.
- Coarctation of Aorta: This is when the main blood vessel from the heart (aorta) is too narrow.
- Blood pressure might be high in the arms and low in the legs.
- Babies with this might have trouble growing.
- It can be treated with medicine or a special balloon procedure.
- Some heart problems are linked to other conditions:
- Diabetic mother: Babies of mothers with diabetes might have VSD or TOG heart problems.
- Turner Syndrome: This can be linked to Coarctation of Aorta.
- Congenital Rubella: This can be linked to PDA.
- Kawasaki disease: This can cause problems with the heart’s blood vessels.
Page 7-10: Chromosome Problems
- Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21): This is when a baby has an extra chromosome.
- It’s the most common chromosome problem.
- Babies with Down Syndrome might have intellectual disability, a single line on their palm, and a flat nose.
- They also have a higher chance of certain heart problems and other health issues.
- Edward Syndrome (Trisomy 18): This is when a baby has an extra chromosome 18.
- Babies might have ears that are set low and clenched fists.
- Patau Syndrome (Trisomy 13): This is when a baby has an extra chromosome 13.
- Babies might have extra fingers or toes, small eyes, and a cleft lip. They often don’t live past one year old.
- Turner Syndrome (45, X0): This affects girls and means they are missing part or all of an X chromosome.
- Girls with Turner Syndrome are usually short, have a webbed neck, and may have problems with their ovaries.
- They are also more likely to have Coarctation of Aorta.
- Klinefelter Syndrome (47, XXY): This affects boys and means they have an extra X chromosome.
- Boys with Klinefelter Syndrome are usually tall and might have small testicles.
- They might need testosterone medicine.
Page 11-15: Stomach and Bowel Problems
- Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis: This is when the muscle at the bottom of the stomach gets too thick, making it hard for food to pass.
- Babies with this will often throw up forcefully and might be dehydrated.
- A doctor might feel a “olive-shaped” lump in their belly.
- It’s treated with surgery.
- Intussusception: This is when one part of the intestine slides into another, like a telescope.
- It’s most common in boys between 6 months and 3 years old.
- Babies might have belly pain, throw up, and have bloody poop.
- It’s often treated by pushing air or fluid into the bowel.
- Meckel’s Diverticulum: This is a small pouch in the small intestine that shouldn’t be there.
- Most people don’t have symptoms.
- Sometimes, it can cause painless bleeding.
- It’s found with a special scan and treated with surgery.
- Hirschsprung Disease: This is when some nerves are missing in the large intestine, making it hard for poop to move through.
- Babies might not poop in the first 48 hours after birth.
- They might have a swollen belly and throw up bile.
- It’s diagnosed with a special test and treated with surgery to remove the bad part of the intestine.
- Cystic Fibrosis: This is a problem that affects many parts of the body, including the lungs and digestive system.
- Babies might have salty skin and problems with their pancreas.
- They might also have delayed first poop (meconium).
- It’s diagnosed with a sweat test.
Page 16-18: Other Diseases
- Kawasaki Disease: This is a disease that causes swelling in blood vessels, especially in children under 5.
- Children might have a fever, red eyes, rash, swollen hands and feet, and a “strawberry tongue.”
- It can affect the heart’s blood vessels.
- It’s treated with medicine like aspirin and IVIG.
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA): This is when children have joint pain and swelling.
- There are different types, but all involve joint problems.
- Children might have a high fever and a salmon-pink rash.
Page 19-21: Ear and Lung Problems
- Acute Otitis Media: This is an ear infection.
- It’s caused by germs like bacteria or viruses.
- Children might have ear pain, fever, and trouble sleeping.
- The eardrum might look red and bulging.
- Bronchiolitis: This is when the small airways in the lungs get swollen.
- It’s most common in children under 2 years old.
- It’s usually caused by a virus called RSV.
- Children might have a cough, fast breathing, and a “washing machine” sound when a doctor listens to their chest.
- Meningitis: This is a serious infection of the lining around the brain and spinal cord.
- It can be caused by bacteria or viruses.
- Symptoms include a stiff neck and sensitivity to light.