10 Serious Diseases that Strike Infants

There is no greater concern for new parents than the health and well-being of their infant child. Proper nutrition, adequate medical care and vaccinations have reduced the risk of infant diseases greatly in recent years. Nevertheless there are a number of diseases that are particularly a threat to infants. The following are 10 serious diseases that strike infants:

1. Cystic Fibrosis - A genetic disorder that affects primarily the lungs and digestive system. Children who have cystic fibrosis are very susceptible to lung infections. The body’s mucus, which acts as a protective barrier to germs, becomes thick and sticky. Instead of removing germs, it traps them in the passageways, often resulting in infections.
2. Cerebral Palsy - A group of disorders that are generally caused by injury to, or abnormalities of, the brain. Though most of these problems develop prior to birth, an infant can experience them at any time within their first two years.
3. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) – The sudden death of an infant up to one year of age, which is unexplained by medical investigation or autopsy. This condition has become much less prominent through education of parents, as some of the causes are believed to be the position of the infant when sleeping, the use of tobacco, drugs or alcohol by the parents, and teen pregnancies.
4. Phenylketonuria – An inherited metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency of the enzyme, phenylalanine hydroxylase. The resulting buildup of phenylalanine in the victim’s body causes damage to the nervous system and brain.
5. Sickle Cell Anemia – An inherited blood disorder which strikes primarily infants of African or Hispanic descent. The hemoglobin molecules which carry oxygen throughout the bloodstream are defective, forming a sickle-shape and resulting in anemia and pain for the victim.
6. Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) – An enzyme deficiency which causes symptoms in the baby that include a burnt sugar odor to the urine, hence its name. This disorder primarily affects populations in which intermarriage is common, as with the Mennonite (Amish) community.
7. Spina Bifida – “Split spine” in Latin, also known as Myelomeningocele. It is a birth defect caused by the incomplete closing of the backbone and spinal canal before birth. According to the website for the Spina Bifida Association, it is “the most common permanently disabling birth defect in the United States”.
8. Chronic Lung Disease – The infant’s lungs have tissue damage, which causes problems with its breathing and overall health. Also called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), it is usually not fatal and is often outgrown.
9. Respiratory Distress Syndrome – A breathing disorder in which the infant’s lungs have a deficiency of surfactant, resulting in difficulty breathing. This occurs most commonly in premature infants.
10. Wolman Disease – A genetic disorder that is caused by a mutation in the LIPA gene. Infants who contract this disease can exhibit a wide array if symptoms including: poor weight gain, low muscle tone, enlarged liver/spleen; vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, poor absorption of nutrients. Severe malnutrition often develops and the victim will generally not live beyond early childhood.

Taken From Newborn Care