What to do to lower baby fever

Giving the baby a warm bath, with a temperature of 36ºC, is an excellent way to lower the fever naturally, but to place a hand towel wet in cold water on the forehead; the back of the neck; in the baby's armpits or groin is also an excellent strategy.

The baby's fever, which is when the temperature is above 37.5ºC, which is not always a sign of illness, as it can also be caused by heat, excess clothing, birth of teeth or reaction to the vaccine.

The most worrying is when the fever happens due to an infection with viruses, fungi or bacteria, and in this case, the most common is the fever to appear fast and high, and not to give in with simple measures mentioned above, being necessary the use of medicines.

Natural techniques to lower baby fever

To lower the baby's fever it is advised:

Remove excess baby clothes; Offer liquids to the baby, which can be milk or water; Give the baby a bath with warm water; Place towels wet in cold water on the forehead; nape; armpits and groin.

If the temperature does not drop with these tips in about 30 minutes, it is recommended to call the pediatrician to find out if you can give medicine to the baby.

Remedies to lower baby fever

The remedies should only be used under the recommendation of the doctor or pediatrician and are generally indicated as antipyretic agents such as Acetominofen, Dipirona, Ibuprofen every 4 hours, for example.

When there are signs of inflammation, the doctor may prescribe the combined use of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen in intercalated doses, every 4, 6 or 8 hours. The dose varies according to the child's weight, so one must pay attention to the right amount.

The doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic in case of infection caused by certain viruses or bacteria.

Usually it is only recommended to give each dose after 4 hours and if the child has more than 37.5ºC of fever, because the fever lower than that is also a defense mechanism of the body, in the fight against viruses and bacteria and, therefore, not medicine should be given when the fever is lower than that.

In the case of viral infection (virosis), the fever subsides after 3 days even with the use of medication and in the case of bacterial infection, the fever only subsides after 2 days with the use of antibiotics.

When to go to the doctor immediately

It is recommended to go to the hospital, emergency room or consult the pediatrician when:

If the baby is less than 3 months old; The fever goes over 38ºC and the temperature quickly reaches 39.5ºC, indicating a possibility of bacterial infection; There is a loss of appetite, with refusal of the bottle, if the baby sleeps a lot and when awake, shows signs of intense and unusual irritation, which may indicate a serious infection; spots or spots on the skin; other symptoms appear such as the baby is always whimpering or moaning; the baby cries a lot or stays too long, without any apparent reaction; if there are signs that the baby is having difficulty breathing; if it is not possible to feed the baby for more than 3 meals; if there are signs of dehydration; the baby becomes very listless and unable to stand or walk; if the baby is unable to sleep for more than 2 hours, waking up several times during the day or night, because he is expected to sleep more due to fever.

If the baby has a seizure and starts to struggle, keep calm and lay him on his side, protecting his head, there is no risk of the baby suffocating with his tongue, but you must take a pacifier or food out of it from your mouth. The febrile seizure usually lasts for about 20 seconds and is a single episode, not a major cause for concern. If the seizure lasts more than 2 minutes, the child should be taken to the hospital.

When talking to the doctor it is important to say the baby's age and when the fever came, whether it is continuous or if it seems to pass by itself and always comes back at the same time, because it makes a difference in clinical reasoning and to reach the conclusion of what can to be.