Fever and Your Baby:Expert Insights

02 February 2023

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When a little one has a fever, especially for the first time after birth, it can be alarming for parents. According to Dr. Promilla Butani, Child Doctor in South Delhi, ‘Fever is usually considered a sign or symptom of some medical illness and indicates that the immune system is working harder to combat infection’. Although, it is good to have a fever it is important to figure out the reason behind its occurrence in a baby so that the ailment of the baby can be treated well in time and the parent could ensure that the child is kept hydrated and is not experiencing any discomfort.

What’s regarded as a fever in a baby?

The normal internal body temperature of a child can vary, depending on his/her age and activity level. The time of the day when the thermometer is used to check fever could affect its reading. Body temperature is found to be highest in the late afternoon and early evening and lowest at night and early morning. Moreover, newborns tend to have higher body temperatures than older children. A true fever will show rectal reading above 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) and oral reading above 37.2 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit).

Fever should never be confused with a heatstroke or heat-related illness that results in raised body temperature. Heatstrokes can develop in babies if they are overdressed in hot, humid weather. In such cases, the body temperature can elevate to serious levels (above 40.5 degrees Celsius/ 105 degrees Fahrenheit).

How to confirm that the baby has a fever?

Touching the forehead or other body parts of the baby and checking for being hot is not an accurate way to see if the baby has a fever, especially if the baby is having chills.

Temperature-sensitive tape or fever strips are also not reliable ways to measure internal body temperature. Pediatrics recommend checking for true fever with a thermometer which could be placed on their underarms or under the tongue (if older child). Use of an ear thermometer must be strictly avoided for babies who are aged below 6 months since their ear canals are tiny and cannot provide accurate readings.

What can cause fever in babies?

Infants can suffer from fever because of illnesses such as:

· Common colds
· Ear infections
· Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
· Bowel/Intestinal infections
· Sinus or throat infections
· Urinary tract infections
· Pneumonia
· Influenza
· Croup or laryngotracheobronchitis
· Serious medical conditions like blood infections (sepsis) or infections of the brain/ spinal cord (meningitis).

Teething, which often takes place in babies at about 6 months of age, can cause a slight increase in their body temperature but within normal range. Researchers have concluded that it cannot cause true fever.

When to see a pediatrician?

Babies having true fever, especially those who are younger than two months old, need to take prompt medical attention from a child doctor even if they otherwise seem well. Dr. Promilla Butani is the best child specialist in South Delhi who is committed and dedicated to taking care of pediatric patients. While avoiding putting the baby through unnecessary tests or hospitalizations, she takes any challenging case to quickly find the cause of the fever and accordingly provide treatment. For children between 0 months (newborn) and 5 years of age and having febrile convulsions, parents should not hesitate to consult Dr. Promilla Butani right away who can prescribe the best-suited medications to make the baby feel comfortable and healthy again.

Dr. Promilla Butani is an expert child doctor in South Delhi and has four decades of experience in her field. She has helped thousands of parents by providing their children with the best treatments. To book a consultation visit here at Dr. Promilla Butani's Pediatrics Practice.
Visit: https://www.drpromillabutani.com/

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