Pediatric fever Normal newborn anal temperature between 36.2 degrees – 37.8 degrees, axillary temperature between 36 degrees – 37 degrees; newborn anal temperature more than 37.8 degrees, axillary temperature more than 37 degrees, that is, fever. Fever is caused by pathogenic bacteria (bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, etc.), when these pathogenic bacteria invade the body, the body’s defense system for the protection of the body, the body can make a variety of protective reactions against pathogenic bacteria, fever is one of the resistance reaction. Fever is not a bad phenomenon, that the body is fighting with pathogenic bacteria, so it is very consuming human energy, the patient will be drowsy, fatigue. Factors that cause fever in babies Non-disease factors Infant body temperature is easily affected by the external environment: high temperature (heat stroke), too many clothes, not enough water intake, water loss (sweating, diarrhea), room air circulation, before and after strenuous exercise, the role of some special drugs, other such as prophylactic injections may also cause fever. If the temperature is unstable, the possibility of disease should be considered. Disease factors 1, less than 3 months of infants with fever to bacterial infection is the most common (such as type B streptococcus); other such as respiratory tract, urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract infection or otitis media can also cause fever. The most serious infection is sepsis. So when the newborn baby fever, must be brought to the doctor to check, in order to early diagnosis, early treatment. 2, greater than 3 months of infants and young children with fever The most common are colds, otitis media, urinary tract infections. Otitis media is usually caused by bacteria or viruses from colds that infect the middle ear from the Eustachian tube upward. Except for severe otitis media, where pus can be seen flowing into the ear, most of the abnormalities cannot be seen from the outside. In addition, when a child has a fever with no obvious cause, a urine test is also important. Older children with urinary tract infections may have frequent urination, painful urination, or even urinary incontinence and back pain. Smaller children may only have anorexia, spitting up, diarrhea, jaundice, etc., but no urinary tract symptoms, so it is very easy to misdiagnose. A small number of urinary tract infections are due to congenital malformations of the urinary organs, such as a misshapen kidney or a ureter that enters the bladder at a wrong angle, which require surgical treatment. What is the degree of fever? A child is considered to have a fever when the anal temperature is >37.8℃, or the temperature under the tongue is >37.5℃, or the temperature under the armpit is >37.4℃. The temperature measured by the ear thermometer is similar to the anal temperature and is called “coretemperature”. How to measure body temperature correctly? 1, measuring armpit temperature is better than anal temperature: because anal temperature must be inserted into the anus, it is more irritating to babies, while armpit temperature is milder. 2.Apply mercury thermometer or ear thermometer to babies under 3 years old: the accuracy and safety of ear thermometer has been recognized by the medical profession; mercury thermometer is more accurate than electronic thermometer. 3, before using the mercury column flung to 36 ℃ below: so that the measured temperature is accurate. 4, need to measure enough time: if the measurement of axillary temperature needs to be clamped for more than 5 minutes, anal temperature is only 1 minute. 5, the anal table should be lubricated first: before measuring the anal temperature, you need to apply lubricating cream on the anal table, and then insert it into the anus for 2 centimeters. 6, bathing, eating and drinking, exercise can not be measured immediately after the temperature: half an hour after the bath to measure the temperature; eat hot food, hot days just come in from outside or after exercise, its temperature between 38 ~ 38.5 ℃, should rest for half an hour and then measure, should not be diagnosed suddenly as a fever. Do I need to reduce the fever as soon as I have a fever? Fever is a warning sign, it is notifying you that a certain part of the body is sick; however, fever itself is not enough to harm the child, so the necessity of reducing the fever has been controversial for a long time. Scholars who argue that fever is not necessary diagnose it as a normal immune response that helps white blood cells fight off bacteria. Analyzing the pattern of the fever can help diagnose the cause of the illness, and reducing the fever is misleading. In addition, fever itself can help sterilize bacteria and raise resistance, so there is no need to reduce fever urgently when it is not too high. However, most doctors are in favor of moderate fever reduction. Because fever will increase metabolism and cause internal exertion, patients with headache, tiredness, rapid heartbeat. Infants and young children are easily dehydrated, fever caused by water evaporation, it is a vicious circle, infants and young children have a higher proportion of heat cramps, letting the fever cause harm is unnecessary. How can I help my baby to reduce fever by myself? When the baby’s body temperature reaches the fever temperature mentioned above, use the following mild (physical) methods of fever reduction can make the baby comfortable: 1, cold compress method: this method is simple and easy to implement, with a cold towel on the forehead, the towel becomes hot and then soaked in cold water to re-compress. With a cold water bag or ice packs, the effect is better than with a cold towel on the forehead. 2, the whole body warm water swabbing or bath: the baby clothes will be unlocked, with warm water (37 ℃ or so) towel rubbing the whole body or bath, so that the baby’s skin blood vessels dilate, will be dispersed body gas; in addition to the water from the surface of the evaporation, but also absorbs the body heat. Each bath about 10 to 15 minutes, about 4 to 6 hours once. 3, warm alcohol bath: alcohol bath will be 70% alcohol to tap water 1 / 1, or 75% alcohol to water 1/2, can also use two pots of wine to water 1/4, in a small bowl. Rub bath will be closed, with gauze or soft towel dipped in the bowl of alcohol, wipe the child’s palms, feet, armpits and inner upper arms, chest and thigh roots. The temperature of the diluted water is about 37 to 40 ℃, and then wipe the limbs and back; if you use alcohol directly, it will make the children feel very cold, very uncomfortable, and even convulsions. After wiping the body can be covered with a towel, and so on 5 to 10 minutes, the alcohol evaporates almost when the body’s blood circulation to the surface of the body, and make the skin hot, you can repeat the second time, and so on for about three times, the temperature outside the body can be rapidly reduced. Because of the faster fever, this method is suitable for children over 1 year old, and more than 40 ℃ is not easy to reduce the use of high fever. 4.Wipe with a cool towel: Use a slightly cooler towel (about 25 degrees) to wipe the forehead and face. 5, drink more water: help sweating, in addition to water has the function of regulating the temperature, can make the body temperature drop and replenish the body loss of water. 6, the use of cold water pillow: anal temperature above 38 ℃ can use cold water pillow, is the use of lower temperatures for local cooling. Now on the market of soft cold water pillow is very convenient, cold degree is not too cold, larger children and children can be used. However, it is not recommended to use for infants under 6 months, because infants are not easy to turn the body, will cause localized cold and frostbite or lead to hypothermia. 7, the appropriate increase or decrease in clothing: if the baby’s limbs are cold and violent shivering (chills), it is said that the need for warmth, so add a blanket to cover; if the limbs and hands and feet warm and sweaty, it is said that the need to dissipate heat, you can wear less clothing.