NICU and PICU Care at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla
Some newborns and children become ill quickly and need closer watching than a normal ward can give. That is the purpose of intensive care. NICU stands for neonatal intensive care unit, which looks after newborns in their first weeks. PICU stands for paediatric intensive care unit, which looks after older infants, children and teenagers who are seriously ill. CritiCare Asia Hospitals is a paediatric hospital in Mumbai where critically ill children are watched closely and treated by doctors trained in child care. Parents are told what is happening in simple words, even in the middle of an emergency. Our Kurla centre provides NICU and PICU care in Kurla, Mumbai for newborns and children who need constant monitoring.
Warning Signs That Need Urgent Care
In newborns and young children, a few signs mean help is needed straight away.
- Breathing that is fast, noisy or looks like hard work, or pauses in breathing
- A bluish or very pale colour around the lips or face
- A newborn who is too sleepy to feed, feeds poorly or is hard to wake
- Fits (seizures) or sudden stiffness or floppiness
- High fever in a baby under three months, or a fever with a rash and drowsiness
- Repeated vomiting or loose motions with signs of dehydration, such as a dry mouth and no urine for many hours
- Yellow skin in the first days of life that spreads or deepens
- Injury, poisoning or a sudden collapse
Do not wait at home if any of these appear. Parents can speak to our paediatric intensive care specialists in Kurla at CritiCare Asia Hospitals.
Who Needs the NICU
Newborns are admitted when they need more care than a normal nursery gives. Common reasons include:
- Babies born early (premature) or with low birth weight
- Breathing difficulty after birth
- Severe jaundice, which is yellowing of the skin from a build-up of bilirubin
- Infection in the first weeks of life
- Low blood sugar or trouble feeding
- Birth complications, or conditions present from birth that need close observation
Many babies stay only until they can breathe, feed, and keep warm on their own. Parents looking for newborn intensive care can consult our team.
Who Needs the PICU
Older infants and children are admitted when an illness threatens breathing, circulation, or consciousness. Common reasons include:
- Severe breathing problems from pneumonia, bronchiolitis or asthma
- Serious infections that affect the whole body
- Seizures that do not stop or keep returning
- Serious injuries, including head injuries
- Severe dehydration or diabetic emergencies
- Recovery after major surgery that needs close watching
What Intensive Care Involves
The care is built around constant observation. Heart rate, breathing, oxygen levels and temperature are checked closely, so changes are noticed early. Where needed, the team supports breathing, gives fluids, medicines and nutrition in a way suited to the child's weight and age, and treats the cause of the illness. Because children's bodies react differently from adults', the treatment is planned for each child and adjusted as they respond. Families seeking paediatric intensive care unit care can consult our doctors for a clear explanation of what to expect.
Supporting Parents
An intensive care stay is frightening for families. The team explains the diagnosis, the reasons behind each step and what the next hours may bring. Parents are encouraged to ask questions, and visiting and feeding arrangements are explained at the start so that mothers can stay close to newborns wherever it is safe.
Treatment Approach
Care begins with a fast assessment of breathing, circulation and alertness, and treatment starts without delay where the child is unstable.
- Stabilising the child first, then finding the cause with examination and tests
- Continuous monitoring, with treatment changed as the child responds
- Breathing and circulation support where it is required
- Medicines, fluids and nutrition given in doses matched to the child's weight
- Regular updates for parents, in plain language
- A planned step down to the ward and a clear follow-up plan once the child is stable
NICU and PICU Care at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla
Critical illness in a child needs speed, close watching and honest communication. The paediatric team assesses each child quickly, treats the immediate danger and then works out the cause. Recovery does not end at discharge, so parents are told how to care for the child at home and when to return for review. If your newborn or child shows any of the warning signs above, seek urgent care and consult the best paediatric intensivists in Mumbai at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla.