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April 4, 2024
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Baby Fever: A Complete Guide to Answering All Your Questions

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Baby fever is one of the things that make caregivers most apprehensive and anxious. But the concern is common and it is estimated that 20-30% of pediatric consultations have fever as their main complaint.

According to the general clinic Marcia Bahia (CRM-MG 65221), fever is? characterized by axillary temperature above 37.2 ° C (35.8 ° C or 38 ° C, depending on reference) and / or rectal temperature greater than 38 ° C. The rectal measurement is? the most accurate, because it has less influence from the external environment, however? less practical and more invasive than the axillary.

Content Index:

Fever Quick Guide
How to identify
Causes
Symptoms
Emergency cases
Treatments
Common questions

Fever Quick Guide

Fever is a physiological mechanism to fight an infection. The child has fever if the axillary temperature is higher than 37.2 ° C and rectal temperature is higher than 38 ° C.
The most common cause of fever is infection or inflammation. Most of the time it is passenger. Tends to disappear on its own without having to medicate.
Child with fever has a red face, a fast heart, fast breathing, feels cold and is downcast. Other signs are irritability, lack of appetite and even? cry.
The rectal temperature measurement is? the most effective, however? less practical and may bother the baby more.
Keep the child hydrated and at rest. Dress her in light clothing and keep the room ventilated. Take a warm bath and do not use alcohol in water, may cause allergy.
Baby with fever can sleep. The child with fever is usually more unwell and sleep and? common.
Vaccines can cause fever, but it is often transient and can be treated with antipyretics for the comfort of the child.
In general the fever associated with the eruption is the dental and low and uncomplicated.

Watch out for these emergency cases:

Newborns up to? 28 days have clear indication of hospitalization and prompt investigation of the cause of fever.
In any child, fever above 39.4 ° C or axillary temperature below 36 ° C. When fever lasts longer than 3 days, it indicates possible bacterial infectious agent.

Get medical attention immediately if your baby has other symptoms such as stiff neck, headache, sore throat and severe earache, unexplained rash, repeated vomiting and diarrhea.

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How To Identify Fever In Babies

Fever can be defined as axillary temperature above 37.2 ° C, or rectal temperature above 38 ° C, and within 3 months the rectal measurement limit reaches 38.2 ° C. The Best Way to Identify Fever in Babies? the measurement of axillary or rectal temperature. However, other signs and symptoms may indicate feverish state, such as irritability, unusual sleepiness and even? cry. It is noteworthy, however, that fever can appear as an isolated symptom without necessarily leaving the child prostrate or irritated.

The rectal temperature is considered the most accurate to measure the internal temperature of the body. To measure, enter the term 'meter' into the rectum at 5 cm in the baby for two minutes. The axillary temperature which, while not as accurate as the rectal, fully satisfies for clinical purposes. To measure, dry the armpit (if there is sweating), place the thermometer under the armpit and keep the arm firmly tightened at full speed for four minutes. On very hot days, read immediately after withdrawal of the meter.

+41:? very high fever, usually associated with a bacterial infection, roseola and other diseases that need closer or even care. hospitalization of the child, the risk of dehydration and other complications.
39,5 ? 41: fever.
37,5 ? 39,5: It is hyperthermia (occurs in situations of overcoat, excess environmental heat and even in some specific cases of dehydration).
36 ? 37,5: - normal temperature.
? 35: hypothermia

Causes

Bacterial infectious cause: It is the most common cause of fever in babies. It is characterized by a fever of over 39.4 ° C, especially accompanied by cold shivering.
Viral infectious cause: This cause is more prevalent than bacterial. This type of fever can last up to 3 days without risk, as adenovirus causes a slightly longer fever.
Cause by rheumatologic disease: a rare cause.
After getting a vaccine: This fever is transient because it is a baby's immune response to the vaccine.
Cause of skin injury: Babies may also develop fevers after a skin injury. This usually means that there is an infection.

Fever is a symptom of a disease, not a disease itself. Usually children have fever when their immune system is fighting an infection.

Symptoms

The doctor Marcia Bahia says that the symptom that defines fever in babies is? essentially the increase in temperature. Other signs and symptoms, however, may also be present and indicate the etiology of fever and its consequences. Check it out below:

Flu-like symptoms point to a possible airway infection.
Diarrhea and vomiting indicate changes in the digestive tract.
Neck stiffness present in some cases of meningitis.

In relation to the physiological changes in the organism in response to fever, the baby? may show tachypnea (increased respiratory rate), tachycardia (increased heart rate) and signs of dehydration (very concentrated urine, low appetite, sleepiness) , etc).

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Emergency cases

Some parents fear fevers are dangerous, but they almost never are. Even so, there are cases where fever can be a serious alert for the baby. Read below the most common cases:

Fever in newborns (up to 28 days)? clear indication of hospitalization and prompt investigation of the cause of fever.
Fever above 39.4 ° C or axillary temperature below 36 ° C.
When do you drink it? Toxic is present, which means irritability alternating with drowsiness, apathy, lethargy, anorexia, moaning, low mood, and weakness.
When fever lasts longer than 3 days, indicating possible bacterial infectious agent.

It is essential to seek medical attention in any of these cases. Call a doctor or go to a hospital immediately.

Treatments

Shower: Warm soaking baths may be used for 10 to 20 minutes, allowing the water to cool slowly, or gentle rubbing with a sponge moistened in warm water, making this rubbing. o in successive parts of the body for a total of 20 to 30 minutes.
Hydration: Encourage the child to drink liquids, especially water.
Withdrawal of clothes: Wear light clothing, keep the environment ventilated. In the most pleasant hours of the day, the child can be outdoors without direct exposure to the sun.

It is noteworthy that cold water can cause chills and tremors that, in addition to discomfort, increase the temperature. Do not put the feverish child with seizure in the bathtub nor add alcohol in water. Alcohol may be absorbed through the skin and cause systemic toxicity and should never be used.

Common questions

Thinking about the most frequent doubts of mothers, fathers and caregivers regarding fever in babies, we interviewed the general clinic Marcia Bahia (CRM-MG 65221). Read the interview below:

1. How serious is a baby with a fever?

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AND? Importantly, the most common cause of fever in babies over 1 month viral, the famous "virus", which is? is treated with measures and medicines that relieve symptoms, being the baby's own body? is responsible for curing the disease. Infants with fever who have the warning signs described above should be referred to the medical service for evaluation of the etiology of fever and for the necessary complementary examinations.

2. Do you drink? with fever can sleep? Why??

Can! The child with fever is usually more unwell and sleep and? common. Attention should be paid to the temperature of the child, but in non-severe cases it is not always Need to wake up the baby? to give the antithetic. The biggest fear in relation to sleep is about febrile seizure, but, as stated above, occurs in specific cases and if a baby is already? experienced a fever above 38.7 ° C and did not convulse, hardly had it? this change.

3. Can vaccines cause fever in babies? If so, what should I do?

Can. Are vaccines small pieces? of the virus or bacterium that generate an immune response in the baby? and makes him able to fight off these infections if he ever comes into contact with them, but without generating the disease itself. In general the fever is? It is transient and hassle free and can be treated with antipyretics for the comfort of the child.

4. Can fever in babies indicate a tooth being born? If so, what should I do?

Can. Studies show that ha? The association between fever and the rising tooth, but in general this fever is low and better accurate by rectal temperature. Since fever is an isolated symptom, near the birth of teeth, can the baby be treated? usually with antipyretics, for the comfort of the child. In general the fever associated with the eruption is the dental and low and uncomplicated.

5. What to do if a baby? 6 months old has a fever? And 1 year?

Children from 3 to 36 months have basically the same infectious etiologies that have fever, with the main viral ones. The initial step is? Always try to confirm the fever by measuring the child's temperature, and doctor it for comfort. AND? It is also important to keep the child hydrated and to offer foods that he or she accepts, but without force (lack of appetite is common). Viral fevers last for a maximum of 3 days and are almost always accompanied by a lighter, uncomplicated condition. When fever exceeds 3 days and / or the child has warning signs, a more thorough investigation should be performed.AND? It is important that children are always evaluated by a doctor, to ensure a mild condition, with evaluation of vital signs and prediction of complications, or for identification. of severe condition that needs more specific treatment. The conduct in relation to Fever in babies depends on several factors, such as exposure of the child to someone sick, baby's vaccination status, baby's immunological status, response to infection, ability to stay hydrated, among others. At that point, e? It is important that a child with a fever in this age range is always evaluated by a doctor.

6. Talk a little about the consequences of fever, such as dehydration and feverish seizure.

Dehydration often occurs in babies with fever and should be prevented by adequate oral hydration or even venous hydration when needed.

The whooping fever is? a rare condition usually associated with? Sudden onset fever with temperature above 38.7ºC in genetically predisposed children aged 6 months to 3 years. It is known that febrile seizure does not carry a risk of brain injury in babies, although it is an undesirable event.

As we saw during the text, fever means that the immune system is working hard to fight an infection. Caregivers can comfort the baby and treat the symptoms with the treatment suggestions we gave above. And most importantly, do not medicate without consulting a doctor. Seek your pediatrician, he is the professional who will know better to guide you.