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Lament of the newborn
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The crying of the newborn from colic should be distinguished . Crying only means that the child reports his discomfort.
Causes of crying newborn
Causes of crying in a newborn can be ordinary (for example, a newborn who is accustomed to straining in utero conditions, is frightened of the movements of the hands and feet) or serious (eg, otitis, abdominal pain). More often, there is no objective reason. A constant or prolonged cry, especially with symptoms of the disease, requires a search for a cause. Almost always the child cries less by 4-6 months; if this is not the case, then it should be assumed that he has pain due to an organic cause or improper care.
What if the newborn cries?
Anamnesis
Anamnesis focuses on the duration, frequency, time of occurrence during the day or the nature of screaming, as well as other symptoms of the disease. Information on fever or upper respiratory infection suggests a diagnosis of otitis media, information on diarrhea or vomiting - lesions of the gastrointestinal tract, from gastroenteritis to more serious conditions. Information about the excessive nervousness of parents can indicate tense relationships in the family, which can affect the behavior of the child.
Inspection
The examination focuses on the parameters of physical development and the search for other signs of the disease. Hyperemia and tension of the tympanic membrane indicate middle otitis media. Bloating or tension of the anterior abdominal wall indicates an abdominal process that leads to pain. Fever and anxiety without an obvious cause can be a consequence of an infection of the urinary system.
Laboratory and instrumental examination
In most cases, crying newborn special appointments is not required, unless the anamnesis and pathological symptoms indicate the need for follow-up.
Lamentation of the newborn: treatment
The role of the doctor is to provide explanations and give advice to parents who are further trying different ways of reducing the child's crying. Approaches vary depending on the cause and age. Children of the first year of life can be reassured by quenching, providing background noise, rocking on your hands or in the crib. Both babies and older children often calm down when driving in a car. If the parents and the doctor are convinced that there are no serious reasons for screaming, the child can be allowed to scream for a short period ("5 minutes rule"), after which the parents calm the child and turn on the watch again. Often parents are relieved to think that they can let the child cry, and often the child calms down spontaneously, before the expiration of the allotted period.