Infant fever when is it dangerous

Colds and gastroenteritis are the most common infections that can result in a fever, although ear, lung, bladder, kidney, throat, and skin infections can also be to blame. Most kids and adults will become infected after touching an infected surface, such as a doorknob or a toy, or after being sneezed or coughed on by an infected person. Vaccines are vital to protect against serious diseases.

However, it is common for a child to experience a low-grade fever after being vaccinated. This will usually appear within the first 24 hours after getting immunized and will only last days. While fevers due to vaccines are usually low-grade, some children may experience a high-grade fever. If your infant or child was over bundled or exposed to a hot environment for too long, they could develop heat exhaustion or even heat stroke.

In fact, 36 children die every year due to heat-related illnesses from being trapped in a hot car. Those suffering from heat stroke will have a high-grade fever, while some suffering from heat exhaustion will have a low-grade fever. However, many children with heat exhaustion will not show a fever at all. Most of the time, fever comes and goes without any additional problems. Below are some dangers associated with high fevers. Young children, usually between 6 months and 5 years old, may experience a fever-induced seizure.

They will typically lose consciousness and start shaking. If your child starts seizing, be sure to lay them on the floor either on their side or stomach. Remove any sharp objects near your child and hold them to prevent injury. If seizing lasts more than 5 minutes, call A normal temperature in babies and children is about A high temperature is the body's natural response to fighting infections like coughs and colds. Many things can cause a high temperature in children, from common childhood illnesses like chickenpox and tonsillitis, to vaccinations.

Use a digital thermometer, which you can buy from pharmacies and supermarkets, to take your child's temperature. If your child's just had a bath or been wrapped in a blanket, their temperature may be higher for a short time. Wait a few minutes then try again. You can usually look after your child or baby at home. The temperature should go down over 3 or 4 days.

Read more about giving medicines to children. A high temperature can lead to a child being very unwell quickly. These are the cutoffs for fever using different types of thermometers:.

Fevers turn on the body's immune system. They help the body fight infection. They can cause brain damage. Fevers with infections don't cause brain damage. It's very rare for the body temperature to climb this high.

It only happens if the air temperature is very high. An example is a child left in a closed car during hot weather.

These seizures are scary to watch, but they stop within 5 minutes. They don't cause any permanent harm. They don't increase the risk for speech delays, learning problems, or seizures without fever.

Fevers only need to be treated if they cause discomfort makes your child feel bad. Wrong, because the brain knows when the body is too hot. While these are "high" fevers, they also are harmless ones. Fevers that don't come down to normal can be caused by viruses or bacteria.

The response to fever medicines tells us nothing about the cause of the infection. It's normal for fevers with most viral infections to last for 2 or 3 days. When the fever medicine wears off, the fever will come back. It may need to be treated again. The fever will go away and not return once the body overpowers the virus. Most often, this is day 3 or 4.