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叶子, 看下面的文章, 关于发烧的,
What's below:
• How can I tell whether my baby is running a fever?
• When should I call the pediatrician?
• Five symptoms to watch out for
• What will my pediatrician do?
• What causes a fever?
• If fever is a defense against infection, is it really a good idea to try to bring it down?
• How do I bring down my baby's fever?
• Which fever-lowering medications are safe for my baby?
• Why didn't my baby's fever come down after I gave him medicine?
• What should I do if my child has a seizure from his high fever?
• Why does my baby's fever keep coming back?
• My baby has a fever and no other symptoms. What's wrong?
• See also
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How can I tell whether my baby is running a fever?
Here's a quick, easy way to find out whether your baby has a fever: Kiss or touch his forehead. If you think he feels hot, you're probably right; studies show that this simple touch test is accurate about 75 percent of the time. A thermometer will confirm what you probably already know, and an exact temperature reading will help you and your pediatrician figure out the best way to get your baby back on the road to health.
Most pediatricians — and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — agree that a normal body temperature for a healthy baby is between 97 and 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (36 to 38 degrees Celsius). If your baby's rectal temperature is over 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C), he has a fever. Call your pediatrician right away if your baby has a fever and is younger than 3 months.
Find out the best way to take your baby's temperature.
When should I call the pediatrician?
You're the best judge of whether your baby is really ill, so call if you're worried, no matter what his temperature is. Besides, rectal temperature isn't the only indication of whether his fever is serious. His age is a factor (fever is more serious in babies under 3 months), and so is his behavior (a high fever that doesn't stop him from playing and feeding normally may not be cause for alarm). Keep in mind that he'll be hotter if he's been running around than if he's waking up from a nap. Something else to remember: Everyone's temperature rises in the late afternoon and early evening and falls between midnight and early morning. The natural cycle of our internal thermostats explains why pediatricians get most of their phone calls about fever between the late afternoon and early evening.
With all this in mind, you should call the doctor if your baby:
• Is younger than 3 months and has a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) or higher.
• Is 3 months or older and has a rectal temperature above 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C).
Five symptoms to watch out for
You should also be on the lookout for any of the following symptoms, which could indicate a more serious problem when coupled with a fever:
• Your baby has lost his appetite, has little energy, or is noticeably pale or flushed, or you notice other changes in his behavior and appearance.
• Your baby has small, purple-red spots on his skin that don't turn white when you press on them or large purple blotches; both of these can signal meningitis, an infection of the brain.
• Your baby is unable to swallow and is drooling excessively; this may be a sign of epiglottitis, a life-threatening infection that causes swelling in the back of the throat.
• Your baby has difficulty breathing even after you clear his nose with a bulb syringe; this could mean pneumonia or asthma.
• Your baby seems delirious, glassy-eyed, or extremely cranky or irritable; these could signal a serious viral or bacterial illness.
Always check with your pediatrician if you feel uncomfortable about your baby's appearance or behavior, no matter what his temperature is. Remember, too, that fever is only one sign of illness. Be sure to mention symptoms such as a cough and ear pain (if you suspect it) or vomiting and diarrhea — these help your doctor make a diagnosis.
What will my pediatrician do?
Parents Talk
Have an opinion about this? Add your comments to the bottom of this page.
If your baby is 3 months or younger, your doctor may ask you to bring him in so he can be examined. You may be told not to give your baby any fever-lowering medicine until after your pediatrician has taken an accurate temperature reading.
If your baby is older than 3 months and has no symptoms (besides a fever) that suggest a serious illness, your doctor may advise you to give him children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen to bring down the fever. If it isn't lower within an hour, ask your doctor if you should switch to a different medication (for example, he may suggest ibuprofen if you've been giving acetaminophen). Another possibility: You may need to bring your baby in to the doctor's office or emergency room to be examined.
No matter how old your baby is, if he has symptoms that suggest a serious illness or infection, you will be told to bring him in to be evaluated at the doctor's office (if you call during working hours) or an emergency room.
Your pediatrician will probably tell you that if your baby is reasonably alert, taking fluids, and has a temperature that you've been able to keep below 102 degrees F (38.9 degrees C) with the recommended dosage of acetaminophen or ibuprofen, you can wait 24 hours before bringing him in. Since fever is often the first symptom of an illness, a doctor may not find anything significant if your baby is examined too early.
What causes a fever?
Fever is generally a sign that your baby's body is waging a war against an infection. His natural defense system includes white blood cells that attack and kill invading bacteria.
Your baby's temperature will also rise if he gets heat stroke. Heat stroke is a dangerous condition that may strike if your baby has been playing out in the sun on a beach or is stuck in a car with the windows up on a sweltering day. If a baby of any age becomes feverish after being out in the sun or cooped up in a hot, enclosed space and you can't bring his temperature down by removing layers of clothing or having him rest in a cool spot, get him to a doctor or an emergency room right away.
If fever is a defense against infection, is it really a good idea to try to bring it down?
Since fever is part of the body's defense against bacteria and viruses, some researchers have suggested that the body fights infections more effectively when its temperature is elevated. On the other hand, if your baby's temperature is too high, he'll be too uncomfortable to eat, drink, or sleep, and that makes it harder for him to get better. One solution is to give your baby children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen, with your doctor's go ahead. Both will help lower a fever without interfering with its fight against infection. Simply put, the medications signal the brain to lower the body's current temperature setting, although it won't necessarily come all the way down to normal. Once your baby's fever starts to drop, he'll feel more comfortable. That, in turn, will help him stay hydrated, since he won't drink if he feels rotten. Before you use either medication, however, check with your pediatrician.
How do I bring down my baby's fever?
If your little one has a low-grade temperature (under 100.4 degrees F / 38 degrees C for a baby under 3 months and around 101 degrees F / 38.3 degrees C for a baby 3 months and older) that isn't affecting his behavior, you don't need to give him anything to lower the fever. Offer him plenty of breast milk or formula to bring his body temperature down and prevent dehydration, and don't overdress him. His body temperature might be higher than normal because of extra clothes, a scorching day, or a lot of active play. Help him cool down by taking off a few of his layers, and encourage him to rest or play quietly in a cool spot.
If your baby has a high fever (higher than 100.4 degrees F / 38 degrees C for an infant under 3 months; higher than 102.5 degrees F / 39.2 degrees C for a baby 3 months or older), you can lower it by sponging him down with lukewarm water or giving him a lukewarm bath.
Never try to reduce a fever by sponging down your infant with rubbing alcohol, since it can be absorbed into his bloodstream through the skin. If that happens, your baby may develop breathing problems, have seizures, or become lethargic or irritable due to a drop in blood sugar.
Which fever-lowering medications are safe for my baby?
If your doctor says it's okay, use infants' acetaminophen or ibuprofen to bring down your baby's temperature. His weight will determine the right dose. Always use a measuring spoon or dropper to give your baby exactly the right dosage. Don't give any fever-reducing medicine more often than is recommended. You can give acetaminophen every four hours and ibuprofen every six hours.
Never give your baby aspirin. It can make children more susceptible to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disorder.
A final word of caution: Many combination cold and cough medications contain fever-lowering drugs such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Check their labels carefully and don't give your baby a separate fever-reducer when he's taking one of these combination products.
Why didn't my baby's fever come down after I gave him medicine?
If he continues to run a high fever 30 to 45 minutes after taking medicine, check the dose and your measuring utensil again to make sure he got the right amount of medication. If he did, he simply may not be responding to the medication you gave him. If acetaminophen doesn't start to lower his temperature within an hour, ask your doctor whether you should try something else.
What should I do if my child has a seizure from his high fever?
If your baby's temperature suddenly soars — for example, from 102 to 105 degrees F (38.9 to 40.5 degrees C), he may have a seizure. In most cases, these "febrile seizures," as doctors call them, are harmless, but that doesn't make it any less terrifying for you while he's having one. If your baby's having such a seizure — breathing heavily, drooling, turning blue, rolling back his eyes, or shaking his arms and legs uncontrollably — quickly place him on his back or side, away from hard objects. Turn his head gently to one side so vomit or saliva can drain easily. Make sure he doesn't have anything in his mouth, and don't put anything in his mouth while the seizure lasts. After it's over you can carefully wipe away any vomit with a washcloth. Try to remember to note how long the seizure lasts — they usually last between 10 seconds and three or four minutes.
When the seizure subsides, make your baby more comfortable — and, possibly, prevent another attack — by trying to lower his temperature. Remove his clothing and sponge him with lukewarm water. If he's able to keep it down, give him some breast milk or formula. An appropriate dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen may help, too.
Even if the seizure was mild or lasted only seconds, make an immediate appointment with your doctor to rule out conditions such as meningitis. If your baby started turning blue during the seizure, had convulsions that lasted for more than a few minutes, has trouble breathing after the seizure has passed, or is still drowsy or lethargic an hour later, call 911 and go to an emergency facility.
Why does my baby's fever keep coming back?
He'll run a fever until his body is clear of the infection. This can take at least two or three days. Some infections, such as influenza (the flu), can last from five to seven days. If your baby has been treated with antibiotics to fight a bacterial infection, it may take 48 hours for his temperature to fall. Fever-lowering medicines temporarily bring down body temperature; they don't affect the bug that's producing the infection. As long as the infection lasts, your child will have a fever.
My baby has a fever and no other symptoms. What's wrong?
When a baby has a high fever that isn't accompanied by a runny nose, a cough, vomiting, or diarrhea, figuring out what's wrong can be difficult. Some viral infections, such as roseola, cause three days of very high fever followed by a light pink rash on the trunk. More serious infections, such as meningitis, urinary tract infections, or bacteremia (bacteria in the bloodstream), may also trigger a high fever without any other symptoms. If your baby has a high fever and no other symptoms, call the doctor.
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2003-08-21 08:38:58
