Baby fever
With small babies, one must be especially careful when fever occurs. On the one hand, babies cannot use speech to draw attention to the fact that they are not well and on the other hand, the body’s immune system is not yet sufficiently developed or strengthened, so that even mild infections can cause fever. Feverish infants are particularly conspicuous in that on the one hand they appear very restless or, on the other hand, apathetic.
In addition, in most cases they cry a lot and sweat a lot. A refusal to take food is particularly common when breastfeeding or when giving the bottle. For infants who are not yet three months old, parents should consult the responsible pediatrician as soon as their body temperature reaches 38° C, since serious illnesses such as meningitis or neonatal infections are possible causes in infants in addition to minor infections.
In the case of fever, it is particularly important to drink enough fluids to maintain the body’s water balance and prevent dehydration. Therefore, if the fluid intake is not sufficient, a fluid supply through the vein prescribed by the doctor may be necessary. In the case of feverish babies, care should be taken not to cover or dress them too warmly, as thick clothing will not allow the excess heat to escape.
To reduce the fever with medication, babies should be made sure that only suppositories are used and that the correct dosage is applied. The preparation that is used in most cases is paracetamol. The administration of ASA is forbidden in infants and small children, as a possible complication may be a serious disease of the liver and brain.
Babies start teething around the sixth month. This process can be accompanied by whining, crying, crying, increased chewing and salivation, and pain. However, the fever is not directly related to the breakthrough of the teeth.
As the nest protection (i.e. the mother’s antibodies in the child’s blood) decreases between the fourth and sixth month, the baby’s immune system has to work alone against pathogens for the first time. Since babies often get an increased chewing urge during teething, different objects are put in the mouth that may be contaminated with pathogens. This can cause an infection, and the baby may develop a fever. Therefore, you should always pay attention to how the baby behaves when he or she gets a fever while teething, as treatment against an infection may be necessary.
