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Infant Illness and Fever Management

Updated: Jul 15, 2020


Infant Illness for your little one

Infant illness can be very scary and is an expected reality for parents dealing with a newborn. Nevertheless, anticipation is very different from reality and arming yourself with a proper knowledge is always the right tool. As a parent or caregiver, you should feel confident in how you are handling these situations, ultimately making sure the child is comfortable and most importantly, safe. Learn about common misconceptions, what to expect and how to inevitably navigate through these common illnesses.


FEVERS

One of the most prevalent and very common infant illnesses are fevers. While common and anticipated in infants, they are understandingly worrisome for parents. Knowing this, education is important as fevers are essentially one way our body’s react in protecting ourselves against sickness. It is typical to want to constantly monitor your child's temperature when they are feeling ill; however, research has shown it is only necessary to do so about once a day.


POPULAR MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT FEVERS

1. Fevers are dangerous. Fevers are our body’s way of activating our immune systems and fighting sickness. The human body is an amazing machine and sometimes has to work a bit harder when we are sick in order to get us healthy again. Just know it is normal and expected from time to time.

2. Tylenol or other over-the-counter medicine will cure a fever. While these types of medications do help suppress your body’s immune response, you could actually be extending and prolonging the sickness. By letting the fever run it’s course, you are actually helping to speed up the process of viral illness and letting your body do its instinctive work.

3. Fevers cause neurological damage if not taken under control. Although a scary thought, research has shown that this is not typically the case. Neurological damage is only possible with fevers reaching around 108°F (42°C); however, it is extremely uncommon to reach temperatures this high. If you’re seeing temperatures above 106°F (41°C) you should seek medical attention.


RISKS

Dehydration is also very important to look out for and monitor when your baby is sick. Tracking urine output and ensuring your baby gets enough fluids is extremely critical to their health when sick; diarrhea is also a leading cause of dehydration, so being sure to monitor bowel movements as well.

Bottomline is making sure your baby is getting the adequate nutrition they need, meaning you may need to increase the number of feedings during their period of illness. Consider increasing fluids with water, breast milk, oral rehydration solution or cold yogurt/milk (if they are old enough). Other small things to consider for your infants comfort is the temperature of living space and the clothes they are wearing. The infants room should be around 70°F to 74°F (21°C - 23°C) and your child should be dressed comfortably in lightweight clothing, so their body can breathe and decrease its temperature naturally.

A familiar infection which can occur in first year of your child's life is the common viral cold. Typical symptoms could be low-grade fever, runny nose, congestion and/or an associated cough, which tends to last an average of 12 days. However, if these symptoms persists for multiple weeks it could develop into something called Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). RSV needs to be closely monitored, as it can result in a worsening of symptoms and viral pneumonia. Symptoms seen in the Fever Risks chart should be monitored as well as any difficulty breathing should be seen by a healthcare provider immediately.


SIMPLE AT HOME REMEDIES


Note: Essential oils such as eucalyptus should not be used in infants as they can be toxic. Honey also is not recommended to be be ingested by infants until approximately one year old.

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The information provided on this website does not replace the medical advice given to you by your doctor.  Information on this site should not be used to diagnose or treat.  You should see your primary care provider before making any health changes.

All Rights Reserved, Dr. Stephanie Fairborn 2024. 

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