Feeling worried when your child has a fever is okay, but do not be rash in handling it. To be more calm in dealing with this situation and the steps taken are also appropriate, let's first look at the important facts about fever in the following baby.
Babies are said to have a fever when their body temperature reaches 38 degrees Celsius or more. So even though his body feels warm and his skin looks red, but if the thermometer shows a number below 38 degrees Celsius, Little is not actually having a fever.
Important Facts About Fever in Infants
There are 5 important facts for you to know about fever in infants. The following are the five facts and their explanations:
1. Anal body temperature measurement is more accurate
You might feel reluctant to do it. But in fact, the most accurate way to detect your baby's body temperature is through the anus. Measurements through the armpits, forehead, or even the ears are not as accurate as the anus. The recommended type of thermometer is a digital thermometer.
When measuring a baby's temperature, make sure the thermometer has been washed before use. Brush the thermometer with petroleum jelly, then insert the thermometer into the anus about 2.5 cm and leave it for about 2 minutes until the thermometer sounds. After that, remove the thermometer slowly.
2. Fever is not only caused by infection
Fever is not a disease, but a sign or symptom of an illness. The most common cause of fever in infants is a viral or bacterial infection. The high temperature of the baby's body which is indicated by fever symptoms is actually a good sign that the baby's immune system is trying to fight the germs that attack it.
The nature and treatment of fever caused by bacterial infection is not the same as fever due to viral infection. The difference is as follows:
- Viral fever occurs when the body tries to fight a disease caused by a virus, such as ARI or diarrhea. This type of fever cannot be treated by antibiotics and will usually subside on its own within 3 days.
- Bacterial fever occurs when the body fights bacterial infections, such as ear infections, urinary tract infections, or bacterial pneumonia. This type of fever must be more vigilant, because it can cause serious complications if not treated properly. The treatment is with
In addition to viral and bacterial infections, the rise in body temperature can also be caused by various other things, including:
- Hot temperatures
- Wear clothes that are too thick or closed
- Immunization
- Teething
- Autoimmune disease
3. Focus on managing the symptoms, not the fever
Many parents believe that the higher the child's body temperature the more severe the illness. Though not the case. Babies with a body temperature of 37.9 may feel comfortable and are still actively playing, while those whose body temperatures are below that are already fussy and look listless.
Babies who look comfortable even if they have a fever actually do not need heat-lowering drugs. Conversely, children who become more fussy, inactive, lethargic, or do not want to eat and drink need to be immediately treated, even if the fever is not too high.
There are several ways parents can do to make babies feel more comfortable when they have a fever, including:
- Give it breast milk or formula more often. For babies over 6 months, water can be given or special electrolyte drinks for infants. This is to prevent the baby from becoming dehydrated.
- Bathing it with warm water to help reduce heat. Immediately lift your child from the water when he starts to look shivering.
- Put on comfortable clothes for Little One and cover her body with a thin cloth, rather than with a thick blanket.
- Compress the forehead and armpits with a towel that has been soaked in warm water.
4. The right time to provide heat-lowering drugs
If the fever does not go down after being compressed, you can give your child a special fever-lowering medication for infants, such as those containing paracetamol. But remember, administration of paracetamol in infants under the age of 3 months must be consulted by a doctor first.
Give medication according to the dosage stated on the package. Do not give aspirin to Little, because this drug can cause serious side effects in infants and children, namely Reye's syndrome which can be fatal.
In addition, ibuprofen fever-lowering drugs should also not be given to infants, because of the risk of causing digestive and kidney disorders.
5. Dangers of fever in infants younger than 3 months of age
A body temperature of more than 38 degrees in infants younger than 3 months is an emergency and must be immediately taken to the doctor. There are at least two reasons why this condition cannot be ignored.
The first is because the protective layer between blood vessels and the central nervous system of infants less than 3 months old is still very thin. If the fever is caused by a bacterial infection, this condition can facilitate the spread of bacteria throughout the body.
The second reason is because babies less than 3 months old do not have a strong immune system, so they are very susceptible to infections. Therefore, infants less than 3 months old showing symptoms of infection, including fever, need to be immediately taken to the doctor for treatment.
Mother also needs to immediately bring Little to the doctor if he does not want to eat, experiencing shortness of breath, convulsions, vomiting, diarrhea, appear rash, look lethargic, very fussy, or fever lasts more than three days.
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