What to Do if My Baby Has a Fever

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A fever is your body's natural response to fight off viruses and bacteria past weakening the germs and limiting their ability to reproduce.^[one] It as well helps burn abroad toxins and stimulates the immune organization. Since a fever is the torso's preferred method for healing itself, it should only be "cured" when the torso becomes besides weak to handle the infection, when the fever is also loftier for the body to handle, or when information technology makes you lot extremely uncomfortable. While yous can handle well-nigh fevers at abode, you should call emergency services immediately if you as well have severe aridity with blue lips, natural language, or nails; severe headache; hallucinations or difficulty walking; difficulty breathing; or seizures.^[2]

1. one

   Wear loose, comfy clothes when yous take a fever to assistance your body relax and improve air circulation to help you lot stay cool. Remove excess wear or blankets that tin can trap heat and make a fever last longer. Endeavour a layer of lightweight clothing, and one lightweight blanket or canvas for sleep.^[three]

   • Natural fibers, such equally cotton fiber, bamboo, or silk, often breathe improve than manmade fibers like acrylic or polyester.

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   High temperatures can make a fever concluding longer and crusade excessive sweating that can lead to dehydration. ^[4] The room temperature should ideally be 73–77 °F (23–25 °C).

   • If the room is hot or stuffy, a fan may assistance.

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   Getting enough rest helps your body heal faster, and then avoid moving around also much. Take some time off work to get even more sleep than you commonly practice if possible.^[5]

   • Sleep deprivation tin can weaken the immune system, increment the production of stress hormones, put yous at higher risk for chronic disease, and lower life expectancy.^[6]

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1. 1

   If the fever is very high or causing you serious discomfort, you tin have a fever-reducing medication. Several medicines target fevers: acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin, for instance. Have these over-the-counter medications as the label suggests to help bring down your fever.^[vii]

   • Check the dosing carefully. Take the smallest dose possible to salve your fever.
   • Children under 18 should non take aspirin unless specifically recommended past a md. It is associated with the evolution of Reye'due south syndrome, a affliction that causes the brain and liver to swell.^[viii]

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   Soak a sponge in h2o and dab information technology on your skin. Dip small towels or a sponge in lukewarm water and dab your forehead, legs, and nether your arms. This helps continue your body cool and tin can make y'all more comfy.^[9]

   • Using common cold water, an ice pack, or taking a common cold shower tin can induce shivers, which can increment the core body temperature, making the fever last longer.
   • Do not apply warm towels to an injury or inflamed skin, equally information technology tin can crusade bleeding and further inflammation.

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1. 1

   If your fever is caused by a cold or influenza, it'south important to keep your olfactory organ clear to breathe comfortably. Practise not accident your nose too hard, every bit the pressure level tin give you an earache on meridian of the cold. Be certain to accident gently and but as often equally necessary.^[10]

   • Experts recommend that you blow by holding a finger over i nostril and gently bravado the other into a tissue.^[11] If your kid or baby has a cold, help them blow their nose correctly.
   • Wash your hands each fourth dimension you blow your nose to avoid chances of other infections by bacteria or viruses.

1. ane

   Applying rubbing alcohol on your pare makes your skin feel libation. However, it is a very temporary sensation. This cooling effect does non assist when you take a fever as it can cause shivering, which raises your core torso temperature.^[12]

   • In add-on, the skin can soak upwardly alcohol. For small-scale children (and infants in particular), this approach can increase the take a chance of alcohol poisoning.^[xiii]

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1. 1

   Your body tin quickly lose moisture and get dehydrated by sweating or sneezing acquired by illnesses, such as colds and influenza, that are oftentimes associated with a fever. Dehydration tin can cause your temperature to rising and oft leads to headaches, dizziness, musculus cramps, depression blood pressure, and seizures.^[14]

   • 2–4 litres (8.5–16.9  c) of water is the daily recommendation for the boilerplate adult.^[fifteen]
   • For immature children, consider a commercial electrolyte rehydration solution, such as Pedialyte, since these proportions accept been specifically designed for children'due south bodies.^[16]
   • To rehydrate children, offer at least 1 fluid ounce (30 mL) per hour for infants, ii fluid ounces (59 mL) per hour for toddlers, and three fluid ounces (89 mL) per hr for older children.^[17]

1. 1

   A bland nutrition includes foods that are soft, not very spicy, and depression in fiber to be digested easily. Some good choices for foods are:^[18]

   • Bread, crackers, and pasta made with refined white flour
   • Refined hot cereals, such equally oatmeal or cream of wheat
   • Juices are okay in moderation, only do not give your child as well much fruit juice, as many fruits comprise citric acid, which can crusade tum acid reflux and lead to vomiting. Dilute these drinks by making them 1 half h2o, one one-half juice. If you are making homemade juice, make certain the fruits or vegetables used are ripe. Make sure the juice is 100% juice with no added sugar. Do non give juice to a child who is vomiting.^[19]
   • For children who are accustomed to drinking it regularly, milk is a good option if they are not vomiting.
   • Infants should but be given nutritious beverages, breastmilk, and commercial rehydration solutions like Pedialyte until the fever comes down. Solid foods may put too much strain on the infant's digestive organisation.^[20]

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1. i

   Likewise much caffeine can be bad for y'all when you have a fever. Caffeine overdose tin cause fevers, headaches, insomnia, diarrhea, irritability, and dizziness. Caffeine too stimulates water excretion and excessive intake can lead to dehydration.^[21] When yous have a fever, try to avoid caffeine or lower your intake to 100 mg.

   • 1 cup (240 mL) of brewed coffee contains 133 mg of caffeine, and 1 loving cup (240 mL) of blackness tea contains 53 mg of caffeine. Avoid sugary soda, free energy drinks, and sports drinks, as these tin cause nausea and vomiting during a fever.
   • Practise not use caffeine supplements until you recover from the fever.
   • Children and infants should generally avoid taking caffeine.

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   You lot should abstain from drinking alcohol, whether it is beer, wine, or another drink when y'all have a fever, regardless of severity. Alcohol weakens the allowed system, making it harder for your trunk to recover chop-chop.^[22]

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   Don't smoke. In addition to the risks of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases, smoking as well suppresses the body's allowed organization.^[23] Smoking thus requires the body to fight harder against viruses and bacteria, which increases trunk temperature. It is best to avoid exposure to cigarette smoke, nicotine, and other tobacco products until your fever has reduced.

   • Children (especially infants) should not be exposed to secondhand fume, specially while they have a fever.

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   Go emergency medical help if you are an developed with a fever over 103 °F (39 °C). A very loftier fever tin can be extremely unsafe. If your fever reaches above a temperature of 103 °F (39 °C), go to an emergency room or an urgent care facility for testing. Yous may demand prescription medication or hospitalization.

2. 2

   Consult a pediatrician if your child has a fever. Always consult a pediatrician before giving a child medication for a fever. Additionally, seek medical care if your kid:^[24]

   • Is younger than iii months old and has a rectal temperature of 100.four °F (38.0 °C) or college
   • Is 3-6 months old and has a fever of 102 °F (39 °C) or higher
   • Is under historic period 2 and has a fever that lasts longer than 48 hours
   • Is not alert, cannot exist awakened easily, has had fevers come and go for upward to a week or more than (even if they are not very loftier or if fever symptoms come back after they had gone away)
   • Does not make tears when crying or cannot be calmed down when crying
   • Does not accept moisture diapers or has non urinated in the past 8 hours
   • Has other symptoms that suggest an illness may need to exist treated, such equally a sore throat, earache, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, or a cough.

3. iii

   Visit a doctor for serious cases. Though you can treat many fevers at home, there are specific situations in which y'all should leave the care to the professionals. Reasons to seek emergency care when you have a fever include:^[25]

   • Cervix pain or stiffness
   • Intense headache or sensitivity to low-cal
   • Defoliation
   • Vomiting
   • Breast pain
   • Trouble breathing
   • Seizures

4. 4

   Telephone call a doctor if your fever persists. A fever is your trunk'south natural fashion to eliminate illness. But a fever that continues could be a sign of a deeper or more than serious problem. If your fever doesn't become away, even after trying to get rid of it, call your medico. They may suggest that you seek emergency treatment or they tin prescribe medication that tin can help.^[26]

   • If your fever lasts longer than 48 hours, telephone call a doc. Information technology could be a sign of a viral infection.

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   Seek emergency care if you lot experience signs of dehydration. A high fever can cause your torso to lose fluids and could atomic number 82 to aridity. If you begin to feel symptoms of aridity, go to an emergency room or an urgent care clinic immediately. You may need IV fluids to rehydrate.^[27]

   • Symptoms of aridity include dry mouth, sleepiness, piffling or dark urine output, headache, dry out skin, dizziness, and faintness.

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   Visit a healthcare eye if you accept a pre-existing condition. If yous have a illness such equally diabetes, anemia, a heart condition, or lung disease and y'all develop a high fever, you need to go checked out by a doctor. A fever is much more dangerous if you already take a condition that could be exacerbated past a fever.^[28]

   • If you're concerned, telephone call your primary intendance doctor to exist certain of what you need to do.

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   Talk to a doctor if you go a rash or see bruises while y'all accept a fever. If you develop a pare rash, or you come across bruises that you can't explain and seem to accept come out of nowhere, contact your doctor. It could be a sign of a serious trouble with your allowed system.^[29]

   • If the rash worsens or starts to spread, become to an emergency room.
   • Painful bruises on your pare that start to go larger or more numerous could be a sign of a serious affliction. Go to the infirmary if you develop lots of painful bruises.

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   Go to an emergency room if you showroom signs of a caffeine overdose. Caffeine can be dangerous if you have a high fever and your torso is dehydrated, and then yous should avoid consuming any at all. But if yous practice potable coffee or tea and you lot start to showroom symptoms of caffeine overdose, become to an emergency room immediately.^[thirty]

   • Caffeine overdoses exhibit symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, chest pains, convulsions, hallucinations, and loss of consciousness.

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   Differentiate between a fever and other activities that raise body temperature. Concrete activity, mood swings, hormonal changes, irregular or heavy eating, tight or heavy clothing, medications, and exposure to high temperatures can also increment your torso temperature. If you suspect y'all have estrus stroke, seek medical intendance immediately.^[31]

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• If your fever exceeds 103 °F (39 °C), seek medical attention.^[32]

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Article Summary X

To cure a fever at abode, drink a glass of water every 2 hours, which will help keep your temperature down. Yous can besides lower the temperature of the room yous're in by opening a window or turning on the AC since high temperatures brand fevers terminal longer. Attempt taking a 10-minute warm shower to regulate your body temperature then your fever goes away faster. If your fever persists, take a fever-reducing medication like ibuprofen or acetaminophen and go to sleep so your body heals quicker. To learn more from our Doc of Medicine co-author, such as how to change your diet to reduce your fever, go on reading!

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What to Do if My Baby Has a Fever

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