Infant & Fever

A fever can make life in your household miserable .It makes everybody right from poor to wealthy; from honest to corrupt; and from politician to bureaucrat feel very helpless, fearful & vulnerable. In case of infants, the mere thought of handling an infant fever leaves one in cold sweats.

What is a fever?

A fever is a normal response of the body to foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. The body recognizes a foreign invader and the brain acts to increase body temperature to make things unsuitable for the foreign invader. Most bacteria can only tolerate a certain temperature range and once outside of it, do not survive.

Myth: - All fevers are bad for children

The fact is Fevers turns on the body’s immune system and helps the body fight infection. Fevers are one of the body's protective mechanisms. Normal fevers between 100° and 104° F (37.8° - 40° C) are actually good for sick children.

Parents should contact the child's health care provider right away if any of the following occur:

• A child younger than 3 months is running any grade of fever.
• A child between 3 months and 3 years has a temperature above 102.2° F (39° C) and appears ill (it should be noted that even teething may cause a slight increase in temperature).
• A child of any age has a temperature over 104.5° F (40° C).

Thermometers – Understand the options

Choosing the right thermometer that's best for your family could be confusing. Here's what you need to know about the most common thermometers.

The most accurate way to take a child's temperature is to use a digital thermometer, either rectally or orally. Rectal temperatures provide the best readings for infants, specifically for those between 3 months or younger as well as children up to age 3.

Mercury thermometers can record temperatures from the mouth, armpit or rectum but they are no longer recommended because they can break and allow mercury to vaporize. If you have a mercury thermometer, consider replacing it with a digital thermometer or an IR Thermometer.