For adults, fever may be a trivial illness and not so worrying. It's different if the one with the fever is your baby. Every parent must have experienced concerns when the baby has a fever.

For every parent who has a baby, the thermometer is one of the tools that must be owned. The thermometer can help measure the baby's body temperature, so you know if your baby has a mild fever or a high fever, whether a baby just needs to be breastfed or needs to get medical help in the hospital immediately.

Causes of fever

Fever is not a disease. Fever is actually a form of body defense when protecting against viral or bacterial attacks. However, fever can still make the baby feel uncomfortable and may cause the baby to breathe faster than usual.

Fever in babies can be caused by a reaction from vaccination or too long outside during hot weather.

In addition, fever is also often associated as one of the symptoms of disease as reported by Healthline below:

• Lung mid-pulmonary
• Ear infections
• Influenza
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Infections in the urinary or digestive tract
• Meningitis
• Another disease caused by viral infection

Fever can trigger dehydration, especially if a baby refuses to drink or often vomits during fever.

Signs of dehydration in babies

• Crying without tears
• Dry mouth
• Diapers worn dry and not wet

What should be done if the baby has a fever

When the baby is 0-3 months old

If a baby has a fever under the age of 3 months, then it is better to take your baby to a health facility or go to the hospital to get help so that the fever can be lowered.

If the baby is more than 3 months old

• Compress or bathe the baby with warm water
• Use a fan to help lower room temperature
• Change a baby's shirt with a thinner and more comfortable shirt, and avoid giving a layered shirt
• Give breastfeeding more often than usual to prevent dehydration

If the baby is more than 6 months old

If your baby is more than 6 months old, consult a doctor if you want to give a mother's medicine so that the dose given is in accordance with the baby's age and weight. Do not give a mother-profession to a baby under the age of 6 months without instructions from a doctor. Don't give it to the baby, because it can increase the risk of Reye syndrome.  

When do you have to go to a doctor?

Immediately contact the doctor or take your baby to the hospital if the fever does not come down and is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• The unknown cause of the Ruam
• Kejang
• Insulting
• Looks very weak
• Too often sleep that is not natural
• Experiencing bleeding
• Breathing difficulties
• Unconscious
• Just suffered a fall or injury, especially in the head
• There are lacerations or burns on his skin
• Her lips look pale or blue
• Babies have a fever of more than 38 degrees or fever that has not decreased for more than 48 hours

Fever in babies can be very worrying and scary. Stay close to the baby, and measure your body temperature every few moments to determine the progress of your condition.