What to Do When You Have Baby Fever
What to Practice When Your Infant Has a Fever
Any fever to a higher place 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit can exist dangerous for a newborn. Larn how to treat baby fevers and when to visit the doctor.
As whatsoever parent knows, at that place's almost nothing more frightening than your baby's first fever. It turns out that "fever phobia" is somewhat justifiable: temperatures greater than 100.four degrees Fahrenheit tin can pb to life-threatening infections (such as bacterial meningitis and pneumonia) in newborns less than iii months sometime. Only don't panic! With the proper steps, information technology's unlikely that a newborn's fever volition pb to complications. Here'south what to exercise when your baby has a fever—plus new guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on how to handle infant fevers.
What Causes Babe Fever?
"The most mutual crusade of fever is infections from viruses or bacteria," such as colds, flus, ear infections, and strep throat, says Anne Tran, M.D., a pediatric hospitalist at Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii. Believe it or not, developing a fever is actually beneficial in these cases, since information technology proves that your baby's immune system is working properly to fight off the infection. Dr. Tran says that certain immunizations can also cause a temporary fever for as long equally 48 hours, which is a normal response to vaccinations. In rare cases, fevers can point to brain disorders or autoimmune disorders.
- RELATED: Toddler Fever Fears: A Guide for Treating Fever in Kids
What is Considered a Fever for a Infant?
Experts recommend using a rectal thermometer for anyone less than three years quondam historic period. These give a more accurate reading than oral thermometers, since you really insert the bulb into the body (1/two to 1 inch into your child's rectum). Whatsoever temperature higher up 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is considered a fever, says Lana Gagin, MD, MPH, FAAP, at Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children'due south Hospital.
Also elevated temperature, other signs of fever in babies include:
- Fussiness
- Excessive sleepiness
- Lack of ambition
It's as well of import to make sure Baby isn't really suffering from oestrus stroke, which is elevated trunk temperature caused by overheating. Prevent rut stroke by fugitive sun exposure, specially if your baby is less than 6 months old. "If you suspect your kid is overheated, immediately move him to a cool place," says Dr. Gagin. "Call your pediatrician or have your child to the emergency room."
- RELATED: Signs of Fever in Babies and Children
What to Do for Baby Fever
"In newborns under three months, any temperature over 100.4 degrees is considered a medical emergency," says Dr. Tran. Babies under three months don't have fully functioning immune systems, which increases the gamble of infections like bacterial meningitis and pneumonia. It's of import they go evaluated correct away to prevent life-threatening complications.
If your baby is between 3 months and 6 months old, phone call the md for a fever over 101 degrees F. You should likewise alert the pediatrician if your infant develops vomiting, diarrhea, ear pain, stiff neck, peel rash, inconsolable crying, shortness or breath, or other worrisome symptoms— or if they accept problem moving or waking. Also lookout man out for signs of aridity in your baby, which include lack of tears and less than three or 4 wet diapers a day, says Dr. Tran.
- RELATED: The Dos and Don'ts of Fighting a Fever
Consider relieving the discomfort of a lower-grade fever with acetaminophen (for babies over three months) or ibuprofen (for babies over vi months). Keep in listen, however, that these medications temporarily mask a fever, but they won't treat symptoms. Call your medico to discuss the proper dosage.
Don't overdress your feverish baby or comprehend them in thick blankets, "equally this can forestall torso oestrus from escaping and cause their temperature to ascension," says Dr. Tran. Consider giving them a lukewarm bath or dribbling a lukewarm washcloth over their trunk. Finally, let your child rest and keep them well hydrated. "And spend some extra time together. A hug from a loving relative goes a long manner," says Dr. Gagin.
AAP Guidance on Treating Infant Fevers
And then what happens if you bring your newborn to the md for a fever? As it turns out, in that location was previously no protocol for dealing with fevers in young babies; treatment could range from short observation to extensive testing at the hospital (such as a lumbar puncture). This prompted the American Academy (AAP) to release standardized guidelines— published July 2021 in Pediatrics—to gear up protocols for dealing with elevated temperatures in infants between 8 to 60 days old.
The new AAP guidelines are broken down by historic period: 8-21 days, 22-28 days, and 29-60 days. They assist doctors determine whether babies with a fever (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or more) who appear otherwise healthy should exist admitted to the infirmary.
"What is good about these guidelines from the perspective of a parent is they are based on all the scientific discipline accumulated over the decades on how to manage an infant with a fever," Dr. Sean O'Leary, a coauthor of the guidelines, vice chair of the Committee on Infectious Diseases for the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a professor of pediatrics at the Academy of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, told Today.
Parents should alert their pediatrician right away if their babe has a fever, especially if the baby is younger than threescore days old. Hopefully, these guidelines will eliminate unnecessary medical costs and streamline treatments in the future.
Source: https://www.parents.com/baby/health/fever/what-to-do-when-your-baby-has-a-fever/
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