Fever Fighting Tips for Handling Soaring Baby Temperatures – Part I

A vital rule to bear in mind is treating the infant and not the fever. Lowering fever does not have to be done at all times as some extent of it might actually be advantageous in combating infections.

Fever on its own is not a sickness and is a caveat that some aspect requires attention. Viral fevers as opposed to bacterial fevers fail to show response to antibiotic therapy. Several virus-caused fevers include Coxsackie virus (or hand foot and mouth disease causing agonizing sore or blister formations in such regions), common-cold and roseola (diagnosed by rashes on the torso emerging subsequent to fever breaking out). Bacteria-caused fever that would show response to antibiotic medicines is particular ear infections (although the paediatrician might adopt a wait-&-watch policy prior to prescribing any medicines at the foremost indication of infections), a number of pneumonia types and infections of the bladder & sinuses.

On the basis of infant’s age and type of symptoms, in case the baby appears to act moderately well then the fever could be overlooked. However if the fever is causing excess discomforting sensations then here are several means of lowering the baby’s fever.

In general, temperatures below 38 degrees centigrade are considered normal by doctors, but temperatures till 39.5 degrees centigrade is moderate-ranging fever and beyond 39.5 degrees centigrade is deemed high. Babies usually experience higher fever as compared to older kids and all have somewhat high readings in-between late noon and earlier part of the evenings.

Temperature examination rectally is deemed highly precise and is a usual recommendation for below-three month old babies since it is vital to identify the accurate temperature for determining the right route of actions. Post-three months of age, thermometer readings that are to be measured in the armpits or pacifier-based is alright and are lesser invasive in comparison. Also the precise temperature recordings are not necessary among babies in that age group. As thermometers could differ, hence many paediatricians ask parents about both these temperatures and the technique employed for measuring so that they could make a decision on ways of interpreting the info.

What not to do during Fever

It is advisable that alcohol must not be rubbed for cooling an infant down since his/her skin is capable of absorbing it swiftly and the vapours when inhaled could also cause alcohol poisoning & several conditions. Aspirin must not be given to kids due to the chances of developing Reye’s syndrome, an atypical yet grave condition linked with aspirin usage in kids which could harm vital organs. Also a fever-ridden infant must not be bundled as blankets could entrap heat.

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