Irritability
Printable VersionIrritability
Images
Definition
Irritability is an excessive response to stimuli.
Alternative Names
Inconsolability
Considerations
The term "irritability" is used for infants and young children who, when ill, are especially fussy, whiny, and fretful, despite attempts at comforting and soothing them.
Parents are usually very aware of their child's normal behavior and may pick up early changes that the health care provider wouldn't notice. This can help diagnose illness early.
Common Causes
Irritability can be a very early sign of serious problems. Although irritability is not a symptom of any specific illness, it should arouse suspicion in the parent that something might be wrong with the child, even though there may not yet be other symptoms.
Causes of irritability include:
- Alcohol or drug withdrawal state
- Cancer
- Colic in infants
- Congenital infections
- Diabetes or other metabolic disease
- Drug reaction
- Ear infection
- Encephalitis
- Fracture, sprain, or other bone, joint, or tissue injury
- Headache (migraine or other)
- Head trauma
- Hydrocephalus
- Hypoglycemia
- Intestinal obstruction
- Intracranial bleeding or abscess
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Lead poisoning
- Meningitis or other serious infection
- Milk intolerance
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Pinworm
- Sleep disorders
- Tay-Sachs or other genetic disease
- Viral infection
Home Care
Attempt to soothe the child with usual measures -- rocking, cuddling, or whatever the child normally finds soothing. If the child cannot be consoled, consult your health care provider.
Watch the child for other symptoms such as:
Call your health care provider if
Contact your health care provider if your child is irritable or inconsolable, with or without other symptoms.
What to expect at your health care provider's office
The health care provider will take a medical history and perform a physical examination. Tests may include:
- Blood culture
- Complete blood count
- Electrolyte analysis
Medical history questions documenting irritability in detail may include:
- How irritable is the child?
- Does the irritability persist?
- How does the child normally eat (how often, how much)?
- How is the child eating now?
- How often does the child normally have bowel movements?
- Does the child have problems with diarrhea or constipation?
- What other symptoms does the child have?
- Is there any fever, confusion, or pain?
After seeing your health care provider, you may want to add a diagnosis related to irritability to your personal medical record.
Review Date: 11/12/2007
Reviewed by: Rachel A. Lewis, M.D., F.A.A.P., Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
Back
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC,
also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC'saccreditation
program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorousstandards of quality and
accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health
information andservices. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorialpolicy,
editorialprocess,
and privacypolicy.
A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net
Foundation (www.hon.ch.)
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or
for the diagnosis or treatmentof any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted
for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to
other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of thoseother sites.
©1997-2006 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication ordistribution of the
information contained herein is strictly prohibited.