What is fever? Fever is not a disease, it is a symptom, a natural reaction of the human organism in response to the environment or disease. This process is beneficial to the body and can serve as an alarm in case of illness, and in the case of babies, it is often the time when they are actually fighting with germs in a feverish manner. The medical definition of higher than normal body temperature is fever. The normal range of body temperature measured in different parts of the body varies, and for the sake of memory, we usually consider a measured body temperature of more than 37,5°C as feverish. If you are in doubt about the measurement and judgment, please consult your pediatrician. What are the causes of fever? The causes of fever in babies are divided into two main categories. Non-disease factors include: high ambient temperature, overheating, vaccine reaction, after strenuous exercise or crying, etc. The most common of the disease factors are infections, heat stroke, allergies, etc. How to detect fever in babies? The old-fashioned method of feeling the temperature of the forehead or skin with the hand is totally inaccurate. There is only one way to determine if your baby has a fever and that is to take the temperature. We recommend that you consider taking your baby’s temperature when he or she: 1) looks uncomfortable and feels warmer than usual; 2) is irritable and cries; 3) is sleepier than usual and is not in good spirits; 4) is in pain; 5) does not want to eat or even vomits; 6) has any symptom of illness that you know and do not know. How do I take my temperature? The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) recommends that mercury thermometers are no longer used in pediatrics because of the risk of accidents such as mercury poisoning and accidental asphyxiation. Different thermometers are used to measure: Anal temperature: Place the child on his or her knees. Put some lubricant (such as petroleum jelly) on the tip of the thermometer and the anal opening. Gently insert the thermometer through the anal opening about 2 or 5 cm. If the child is younger than 6 months, insert only about 1-1.5 cm (i.e. the silver tip of the thermometer disappears). Hold the child and the thermometer for about 20 seconds (2 minutes for a mercury thermometer). Take the axillary temperature: Make sure the underarm is dry and place the tip of the thermometer under the armpit. Hold the arm for about 4 or 5 minutes or until the digital thermometer beeps. The tip of the thermometer must be completely clamped by the skin. To measure mouth temperature: The mouth has not been in contact with anything cold or hot for 30 minutes prior to the measurement. The tip of the thermometer is placed with the tip facing inward on the side under the tongue. It is important to position it correctly. Have the child hold the thermometer in his or her mouth or in his or her hand for about 30 seconds (do not bite down on it with your teeth). Keep both lips closed. (If using a mercury thermometer it will take about 3 minutes.) To take temperature with a pacifier temperature: Have the child suck on the pacifier until it reaches a steady state and a beeping sound is heard. Takes 3 to 4 minutes. Take ear temperature: The thermometer takes a reading based on the infrared heat wave released by the eardrum. Accurate temperature readings depend on straightening the ear canal. pull the ear backward up to 1 year of age and backward and upward over 1 year of age. The thermometer probe is aligned with the midpoint of the line connecting the opposite eye and the earlobe. The biggest advantage is that the measurement takes less than 2 seconds. It does not require the child’s cooperation and does not cause any discomfort. The limitation is that if the child has been outside in the cold, he or she needs to be at room temperature for at least 15 minutes. However, ear wax, ear infections and ear tubes do not prevent accurate readings. Forehead temperature measurement: The thermometer takes a reading based on the infrared heat wave released by the temporal artery traveling through the skin of the forehead. The sensor head is placed in the middle of the forehead, at the midpoint of the line between the eyebrows and the hairline. Press and hold the scan button to scan the body temperature. Slide the thermometer above one ear, keeping the probe in contact with the skin throughout the process. Stop and release the scan button when it reaches the hairline. Remove the thermometer to take a reading. What should I do if my baby has a fever? Although fever itself is harmless, babies can still feel uncomfortable, thirsty and even dehydrated when they have a fever. What we need to do at this time is to try to reduce the baby’s discomfort and hydrate. 1.Physical cooling: including lowering the ambient temperature and water baths and body rubs, etc. 1) Reduce the ambient temperature: let the room be ventilated or keep the room temperature around 24-26℃, you can turn on the air conditioner and fan. Loosen baby’s clothes and wrapping. Blowing fan to promote skin heat dissipation. 2) Water bath: use warm water bath, water temperature of about 30-36 ℃. Do not use cold water or ice water, easy to cause chills instead of increasing the body heat production to make the body temperature higher. Water bath is best to sit, let the baby sit in the bath, the abdomen below the immersion in warm water, above the abdomen with a sponge or towel wetting gently wipe, keep the skin a certain humidity, and then slowly evaporate in the air to dissipate heat. The water bath should last at least 30-40 minutes to play a better cooling effect. If the baby’s hands and feet cold, this is due to sickness and fever peripheral vasoconstriction resulting in poor blood circulation, then in addition to the high skin temperature of the place to warm water cooling, cold hands and feet at the end need to keep warm, you can hot water dip hands and feet, hot towels wrapped hands and feet, rub hands and feet to promote local blood circulation to achieve the effect of warmth. Never remember to never use alcohol to rub the bath, because the baby’s skin permeability is high, alcohol is easily absorbed from the skin, which may cause alcohol poisoning. If the baby resists the warm water bath, you can induce the baby to sit in the bath tub to play with water to achieve certain results. 2, supplemental fluids to prevent dehydration: drink more water, diluted fruit juice, electrolyte solution. Some diluted soft drinks that the baby likes are fine. 3.Medications: acetaminophen and ibuprofen are the most commonly used antipyretics for pediatric fever, both are very safe, refer to the instructions for different specifications or consult your doctor. When should I go to the doctor? 1. less than 12 months of age; 2. temperature above 40°C; 3. temperature does not improve within 48 hours; 4. poor spirit, reaction, appetite (persistent, progressive), decreased vitality; 5. more obvious signs of dehydration (dry mouth, depression, significant decrease in urine); 6. poor facial color; 7. other complications (respiratory distress, persistent vomiting, frequent diarrhea, headache, pain, convulsions, etc.); 8. 8. any other cause of your concern.