Though fever is common in babies and children, it can cause significant worry for you as a parent. Often basic medications and care can cure the condition of fever, and it also cures by itself, but sometimes this condition can worsen and can signal underlying health issues of your baby. When the normal body temperature of your baby reaches 100.4° F or 38°C, it causes a fever. In this blog, you will get a baby fever guide to understand fever, how to take care of your baby and when it can cause worry. Usually, fever resolves by its own, but sometimes you need to be extra careful with babies to manage the symptoms and effects of fever. Understanding how to manage fever in babies and children can be significant in ensuring their optimal health.
Also Read: How to Prevent Common Baby Infections?
An Overview of Fever in Children
A fever in babies is one of the most common symptoms that new parents can experience. Fever is not necessarily a sign of a serious condition among babies. A baby’s normal temperature is 98.6 degrees F, and temperature can be measured in different places in their bodies. Your baby has a fever when they have a 100.4-degree F temperature in the bottom, tympanic in the ear or on the forehead, 100-degree F in the mouth, and 99-degree F in the axillary or in the arm. Fever in babies and children is usually caused by an infection. Fever is the healthy response of the immune system to fight the infection actively.
There are several causes of fever in babies, such as:
- Viral Infection: This is one of the main causes of fever among babies. Viral infections are often caused by certain respiratory illnesses, such as RSV, influenza, or gastrointestinal viruses, such as rotavirus and norovirus, resulting in fever. These infections can also result in a runny nose, cough, or diarrhoea.
- Bacterial Infections: In babies, bacterial infections can be caused by ear infections, UTI(Urinary Tract Infection), pneumonia, and more serious and less common issues like meningitis, and bloodstream infection like sepsis, which can result in fever in your baby. These bacteria are carried through bloodstreams and affect your baby’s health, increasing the body’s temperature.
- Vaccinations: Fever in babies and children is common, especially when they are vaccinated. This is an important side effect of vaccinations, as the immune system responds to the vaccination and builds protection against the disease. This type of fever is temporary, resulting in a mild increase in temperature and soreness at the injection site.
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Dehydration: Another common cause of fever in babies and children is dehydration. This is a common non-infectious cause of fever in infants and young children resulting from insufficient fluid intake, poor breastfeeding, and excessive loss of fluid due to diarrhoea. This leads to elevated temperature usually above 100.4-deggree F along with symptoms like dry mouth or tongue, lack of tears when crying, and reduced wet diapers.
When To Worry About Baby Fever?
In babies, fever can increase the risk, especially when they are younger than two months and have a rectal temperature over 100.4-degrees F. It requires emergency care. If your baby is older than two months, be careful about certain conditions, such as:
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Be watchful of your baby if they are lethargic or unresponsive to activities
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If your baby is having difficulty breathing and eating, it requires proper attention
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If they are crying inconsolably, persistently irritated
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If they are having rashes
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If they are showing the signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet diapers, sunken eyes, a dry mouth, and a sunken or soft spot on the head
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If they are having seizures frequently
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If they are having recurrennt lose motion and diarrhoea, be watchful of how many times they are experiencing loose motion a day, as an increasing number can create concerns
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If they have a stiff neck
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If they are having a severe headache or other pain
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If they are exposed to overheating, such as hot places and hot cars
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If they are having a fever that is lasting more than two to three days
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If the fever keeps going above 104-degree F or 40-degree C
Things to Do When Your Baby Has a Fever
Sometimes, no treatment is required for a fever when your baby is still playing and drinking normally and seems comfortable. But when the temperature is gradually increasing, leading them to feel sick and physically, some ways to make them feel better are:
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Medicines:If your baby is having a fever, provide them with medicines like acetaminophen, such as Tylenol or ibuprofen, such as Advil, Motrin, and store brand to manage the symptoms. However, refrain from using medications on your own and prefer consulting doctors before giving them any kind of medicine. If your baby is younger than three months, do not give any medicine and call a doctor and follow their instructions.
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Keep them Comfortable: To help your kids feel better with a fever, make sure they are comfortable. Make them wear lightweight clothing and keep them covered properly with a blanket or light sheet. Heavy clothes and blankets can prevent the body from cooling, which can be uncomfortable
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Ensure the Room Temperature: If your baby or child is suffering from fever, make sure they are staying in a temperature that is not too cold or too hot. Keep them at room temperature to avoid an imbalance in their body temperature during fever.
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Get them enough rest: When your kid is experiencing a fever, make sure they get enough rest. Due to an immature immune system, fever can make them weak and lead to discomfort and uneasiness. Taking sufficient rest can help them feel better. If you have older babies, try to be watchful of activities and make sure they get enough rest.
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Avoid Home Remedies: During fever in your babies and children, refrain from doing certain things at home, such as giving them cold baths or ice baths, which can lead them to shiver and eventually increase the body temperature. Avoid rubbing alcohol on their skin, which can cause serious damage to their sensitive skin, such as poisoning when absorbed through the skin.
- Manage Food and Drinks:Due to fever, babies and young children do not feel like eating or drinking. Make sure you offer plenty of fluids or liquids to avoid dehydration, as fever can make them lose fluids from the body faster. Using oral dehydration solutions like Pedialyte, Enfalyte, and other store brands can be good options. Make sure the younger babies have more breastmilk or formula. You can provide water, soup, ice pops, and flavoured gelatin to the older babies to avoid dehydration. However, do not force them to eat; let your kids eat what they want in reasonable amounts.
Final Remarks
In most cases, babies and children with fever get back to normal within a few days. For older babies, their activities when they are having a fever can be more important than what the thermometer reading says. It is normal for them to feel cranky and fussy with a fever. However, if you sense any wrong or irregular thing in your baby with a fever and it concerns you, always take the help of a child specialist. You can consult a renowned paediatrician Dr Prince Parakh in Siliguri to address your baby’s health concerns with efficient care.
