What is fever for baby

Causes of Fever Overview. Almost all fevers are caused by a new infection. Viruses cause 10 times more infections than bacteria. The number of germs that cause an infection are in the hundreds. Only a few common ones will be listed. Viral Infections. Colds, flu and other viral infections are the most common cause. Fever may be the only symptom for the first 24 hours. The start of viral symptoms runny nose, cough, loose stools is often delayed.

Roseola is the most extreme example. Fever may be the only symptom for 2 or 3 days. Then a rash appears. Bacterial Infections. A bladder infection is the most common cause of silent fever in girls. Strep throat is also a common cause of unexplained fever. Vaccine Fever.

Fever with most vaccines begins within 12 hours. It lasts 2 to 3 days. This is normal and harmless. It means the vaccine is working.

Newborn Fever Serious. Fever that occurs during the first 3 months of life can be serious. All of these babies need to be seen as soon as possible. Babies under three months with a fever should be taken to a hospital emergency department straight away. In children aged months , fever might be a sign of a more significant illness, so seek medical advice from your GP within the same day. You should also see a GP if your child:. If your child has a fever, the most important thing is to make sure your child is drinking enough to avoid dehydration :.

You can treat a fever with medication like paracetamol if the fever is making your child hot and uncomfortable. Check the medication packaging for the recommended dose and frequency. You can use ibuprofen if your child is older than three months. Do not give your child aspirin for any reason. It can also cause serious illness or even death in children with chickenpox or flu symptoms. Skip to content Skip to navigation.

What is a fever? Fever is not an illness in itself, but is the sign of an illness. Causes of fever and high temperature in children Children get fevers for all kinds of reasons. Return to Symptoms. Next Review Date:. If your child has a fever, it's important to keep them hydrated by giving them plenty of cool water to drink.

Babies should be given plenty of liquids, such as breast milk or formula. Even if your child isn't thirsty, try to get them to drink little and often to keep their fluid levels up.

If the environment is warm, you could help to your child to stay at a comfortable temperature by covering them with a lightweight sheet or opening a window.

However, they should still be appropriately dressed for their surroundings and sponging your child with cool water isn't recommended to reduce a fever. Children's paracetamol or ibuprofen work as antipyretics, which help to reduce fever, as well as being painkillers. You can't give them both at the same time, but if one doesn't work, you may want to try the other later.

Antipyretics aren't always necessary. If your child isn't distressed by the fever or underlying illness, there's no need to use antipyretics to reduce a fever.

When using antipyretics, always read the patient information leaflet that comes with the medication to find the correct dose and frequency for your child's age. Sometimes a high temperature in children is associated with more serious signs and symptoms, such as:.

Home Illnesses and conditions Infections and poisoning Fever in children. Fever in children.