Should You Let a Baby Run a Fever

Even though it may seem counterintuitive, for children older than vi months one-time, a fever can be a proficient affair. An elevated temperature indicates that your child'southward body is fighting off an exposure to a new virus or bacteria such every bit a cold, the flu or an ear infection, or it could be a sign that your baby is having an inflammatory response to an occurrence, such as teething. At Westchester Wellness, we advise our parents that letting a fever run its grade can reduce the length and severity of many illnesses, and therefore they shouldn't automatically requite their child fever reducing medicine.

Maryann Buetti-Sgouros Doctor, FAAP

3 ways a low fever benefits a sick child

1. A fever stimulates the immune arrangement into producing more white blood cells, antibodies and the protein interferon, all of which work to protect your baby confronting harmful microorganisms.
2. By raising your baby's temperature a few degrees, a fever makes information technology harder for bacteria and viruses to survive and flourish. The higher the cadre body temperature, the more inhospitable the environment for harmful microorganisms to survive.
3. A fever helps divert iron to the liver which reduces its ability to fuel the growth of invading bacteria.

8 important reasons to let your infant's fever run its course

A report published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology establish that children who ran a fever during their first year were less likely to develop allergies subsequently in babyhood than children who did not have fever. For this and the following reasons, information technology really is beneficial to your baby, now and in the long run, to let a fever play itself out.

1. Fever reducers mask symptoms. When babies have a fever, they usually lie still, eat very little and have frequent naps. (Our bodies know that digestion requires energy and therefore appetite is suppressed in an effort to conserve resources.) When you treat a fever with medicine, the kid feels amend and becomes more than active when actually he/she should balance more and move about less while fighting the virus.

ii. No medication is without side effects. At Westchester Health, we worry about the long-term consequences of frequent doses of children'southward pain and fever medication. Whether liquid or chewable, they tend to be full of artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners and preservatives, ingredients that we counsel our parents to avoid. It should also be noted that acetaminophen (the active ingredient in common fever and pain relievers) can be toxic to the liver in very loftier amounts. Ibuprofen is another common medication used to reduce fever and inflammation which as well is a cause of gastritis which may lead to stomachaches.

3. Fever helps the body heal. Evidence shows that fever is beneficial to the healing process, triggering the immune response and preventing viruses and bacteria from reproducing. I study showed that people with the flu who suppressed their fevers with medication were sick for more than than 3 days longer than those who took no medication.

iv. Fever reducers contribute to the spread of the flu. Many well-meaning parents administer medication and and so take their less symptomatic just even so highly contagious kids out to public places where they tin can infect others.

5. Fevers need to be treated merely if they are causing discomfort. Usually a fever has to be above 102 or 103 degrees before making a child uncomfortable. It is not unusual for a pediatrician to see a child who is smiling and active, yet has a fever; that child may not demand any fever reducers at all.

6. Treating a fever usually doesn't bring the body temperature back to normal. It just lowers information technology 2 or 3 degrees.

7. Only 4% of children take febrile seizures, indicated by a momentary loss of consciousness, eyes rolling dorsum, shaking, twitching or stiffening. When these types of seizures practise occur, they crusade no permanent harm.

8. How your baby looks is more important than the exact reading on the thermometer. If your child is not in distress, is responsive and can interact with you, he/she is naturally fighting off the illness and should not automatically be given medicine.

If yous exercise give your infant a fever reducer, follow the dose instructions to the letter of the alphabet

According to Parents.com, many parents administer anti-fever drugs as well frequently and in likewise loftier doses. Information technology'due south very important to give the dose that matches your child'southward electric current weight, and apply the dropper that comes with the package. Dissimilar formulations of fever medications come in different strengths, significant that the dropper for ane bottle of medicine might non be right for another canteen. (We've written a blog about this, which you can read here.)

NOTE: Never give aspirin to children or adolescents with fevers. The combination of aspirin and a viral infection may lead to Reye's syndrome, a rare yet potentially fatal liver disorder. After age 18, this hazard well-nigh disappears.

When a fever should not be ignored and your child needs to meet a doctor

There are times when a fever, sometimes in combination with other symptoms, warrants a trip to your pediatrician, advises Parents.com. These include:

• A rectal temperature of 100.four degrees or college in an infant less than 6 weeks onetime. Young babies are more at run a risk for certain serious bacterial infections, and fever is an indication of these.
• A fever that lasts more than 5 days.
• High fever accompanied past lethargy. Although the word lethargy is often used in daily spoken language to express fatigue, the medical definition that doctors are seeking is a chip dissimilar. A lethargic child is limp and unresponsive, won't make eye contact, or generally just looks and acts really sick. A lethargic child needs to be assessed past a medical professional.
•  High fever accompanied by any of the symptoms of meningitis: an unusual skin rash, severe headache, disfavor to light, defoliation, stiff or painful neck.
• Constant, inconsolable crying.

How to accept your baby's temperature

At Westchester Health, nosotros recommend taking your baby'southward temperature rectally ONLY. Here's how:

• The normal range for a temperature taken rectally is nine°F-100.4°F
• Using a digital thermometer, lay your baby on his/her back and bring the knees upward over the abdomen
• Make sure the thermometer is clean, and so dip information technology in water-soluble jelly
• Insert the thermometer in your babe'southward rectum, nigh 1 inch
• Wait for the thermometer to have the reading (usually indicated by a beep)
• Clean the thermometer later each use with soap and water or rubbing alcohol

A little sidebar on teething and fever

Teething often gets a bad rap as a crusade of fever. Keep in listen that teething may lead to some mild inflammation. The near common reason for a mild fever associated with teething is really associated with the common behavior of teething children: putting their fingers in their mouths. This essentially means that the child is exposing themselves to the germs that they put into their mouths from the surfaces they previously touched.

Read our other pediatric blogs

We've written a number of informative blogs about a wide variety of issues and conditions affecting children, which you tin read here.

Worried well-nigh your baby's fever? Come run across u.s.

If your baby's fever is not getting better later a twenty-four hours or two and he/she seems very uncomfortable, this might mean that something is going on other than teething or a cold. In that example, please call (914) 232-1919 to make an date to see ane of our Westchester Health pediatricians. We'll examine your child, diagnose what the problem might exist, and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Our #ane goal is to practise whatever nosotros can to help your child feel ameliorate, and to give yous peace of mind, as soon as possible. Whenever, wherever you need the states, we're hither for you.

By Maryann Buetti-Sgouros Dr., FAAP , a Pediatrician with Westchester Health, member of Northwell Health Medico Partners and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Northern Westchester Infirmary.

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Source: https://www.westchesterhealth.com/blog/why-in-most-cases-you-should-let-your-babys-fever-run-its-course/