Minor conditions you should never ignore in your newborn baby, according to experts If chickenpox goes untreated a newborn could go on to develop pneumonia READ ALSO: Patient safety experts slam Green Party maternity policies By Rebecca Whittaker For Mailonline Published: 09:31 EDT, 9 June 2024 | Updated: 09:31 EDT, 9 June 2024 e-mail View comments Most of us would brush off the common cold, a tummy bug or a cold sore as just another run-of-the-mill ailment. But experts have urged parents to be aware that minor illnesses like the common cold can have catastrophic consequences for newborns and they might need to take action. For example, some viral infections can cause young children to develop potentially serious complications like pneumonia .
However, these minor conditions can be very hard to spot as they 'present in such a general way', warns Dr Muriel Meso, consultant paediatrician and endocrinologist at The Portland Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK in London . Here, Dr Meso reveals the routine ailments no parent should ignore, as well as what to do if you spot them. Dr Meso warns you should watch out for drowsiness, rashes, a high temperature and fast breathing in newborns as it could be a sign of an infection Cold sore For adults a cold sore, caused by the herpes simplex virus, is not only common but can also 'spontaneously resolve', meaning it disappears on its own, or can be treated by over the counter anti-viral creams.
However, in babies that are just weeks old i.