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Fever in babies: When a baby has a fever

As soon as the baby has a reddened, hot face while the body is cool, parents are often worried. We will inform you about this below, when a baby has a fever, what to do about it and when to see a doctor. But first of all: fever is a natural and sensible protective reaction of the body to fight infections. It is a sign that your baby’s immune system is active and should not be combated immediately.

Fever in babies: What do I need to know if a baby has a fever?

Fever is a defense mechanism against bacterial or viral infections. If a baby has a fever, this signals that the immune system is dealing with a disease. Increasing the body temperature of a baby is a natural and sensible reaction of the body, since viruses and bacteria reproduce only poorly at high temperatures and can then be fought better. If antipyretic measures are taken too early, this can delay the healing of the baby. Infants often react with a fever because their temperature control is not yet as mature as that of an adult.

Detect fever: Measure the core body temperature correctly

To properly measure fever, the baby’s core body temperature needs to be determined. In infants it is recommended to measure the body temperature in the butt (rectal). You can rub the tip of the thermometer with petroleum jelly or baby cream, lay your baby on the side and insert the thermometer approx. 2 cm with your legs pulled up. It is not enough to measure fever only once. The temperature of babies should be measured several times throughout the day. Babies have a higher body temperature in the evening than in the morning.

Body temperature baby: When does a baby have a fever?

The body temperature of a healthy baby is between 36.5 to 37.5 °. From 37.6 ° there is an elevated temperature and only from 38.5 ° does the baby have a fever. If the baby’s body temperature is even above 39 °, it has a high fever. From a body temperature of 41 °, there is hyperthermia, which is very dangerous because the body’s own proteins are destroyed. A doctor should be consulted here as soon as possible.

Body temperature in the baby

36.5 ° – 37.5 °: normal temperature
37.6 ° – 38.5 °: Increased temperature
38.6 ° – 38.9 °: fever
From 39 °: high fever
From 41 °: hyperthermia

Possible causes: Why a baby has a fever

The cause of fever cannot always be pinpointed. The most common causes are:

– cold
– flu
– Gastrointestinal infections
– sore throat
– Otitis
– Respiratory infections (such as pneumonia)
– Urinary tract infections

Furthermore, fever can develop in response to vaccination. In this case, the fever should not be reduced, as otherwise the formation of antibodies is inhibited and the effectiveness of the vaccination is limited.

The so-called three-day fever is a special phenomenon. Babies between six and 24 months are particularly affected by the three-day fever. There is a viral disease here, but it is harmless. The fever rises very suddenly and drops again after three to a maximum of four days. Once your baby has survived the three-day fever, it is now immune to this disease.

febrile seizure

As a result of a sudden high fever, your baby may go into a febrile seizure. This can last from a few seconds to minutes. In this case, parents should keep calm and not try to hold the baby. Due to the rapid rise in temperature, the muscles contract, which can cause your baby to twitch. It also happens that the baby rolls its eyes or stares, the breath stops for a moment, the lips turn blue and it even briefly passes out.

It is important that you put the baby in bed in this state and do not hold on to them. It is optimal to lay the baby in the stable side position and not to cover it too warm. After the cramp, it must absorb a lot of fluid and antipyretic measures must be initiated.

If the cramp is over or lasts longer than four minutes, a doctor should be consulted immediately to determine the cause of the cramp. Babies rarely suffer from such febrile seizures, even if they usually seem very dangerous.

Lower fever: what to do if a baby has a fever?

If your baby has a fever, you must measure and record the temperature at regular intervals. Make sure that the baby gets enough sleep and takes in enough fluids. These can be unsweetened teas or still room-warm water, for example. Breastfeeding babies should be put on more often because the energy requirement increases when there is a fever.

You can also place a damp, lukewarm washcloth on your forehead or bathe the baby. You can rub the baby with a soft sponge. Do not dry the baby after the bath, let the water evaporate. This should cool down your baby. It is helpful to change the baby’s bedding frequently.

Another way to lower your baby’s fever is to use calf wraps. To do this, take a cotton cloth and hold it in lukewarm water (approx. 20 °). Then wring the cloth out slightly. First, dry towels are wrapped around the baby’s calves, then the wet towels are put on top, and lastly, woolen towels are wrapped over them. This should ensure cooling. Once the wraps have reached body temperature, you can renew them. Doctors are taking a critical look at calf wraps these days because cooling may stimulate the body to continue heating.

If you have a fever, do not keep the baby too warm, i.e. rather put on light cotton clothes, keep the room at room temperature and cover it with a not too warm, thin blanket.

Antipyretic agents should only be administered at 39 ° and after consultation with a doctor. It is important that these remedies do not address the cause of the fever. Please note that babies must never consume acetylsalicylic acid, this could have life-threatening consequences.

Live fever

Increased fever: forehead and head are heated, the body is rather cool, keep the baby warm
Fever buildup: fever climax, body and cheeks are hot, now slowly lower fever
Fever drop: Now the baby sweats a lot, change bed linen regularly

When should I see a doctor??

Fever in a baby is an alarming signal for parents that the body is responding to pathogens. It is important here whether your baby has other symptoms besides fever. From a temperature of 38.5 °, parents should be alarmed. If you know the cause of the fever, for example a vaccination or a cold, you do not need to worry at first and can treat the fever yourself. Fever is important for the immune system and should only be lowered in consultation with the doctor.

You should see a doctor immediately if you have a fever if:

– the baby is younger than 4 months
– an infant cries shrilly
– the baby refuses to drink
– the fever keeps rising or doesn’t stay low for long
– the fever has been going on for 24 hours without improvement
– Calf wraps etc. have no effect
– other symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, rashes or vomiting are added

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