Here are Some Prominent Causes of a Fever in Babies

Fever in babies can make parents anxious, while the infant stays in agony. High body temperature is an indicator that something is wrong with the body and warrants medical attention.

In this post, MomJunction acquaints you with all the possible reasons behind a baby’s fever, how to care for an infant with fever, and the preventive measures to keep the fever at bay.A fever is the symptom of numerous diseases and conditions. Here are some prominent causes of a fever in babies:

* Viral infections

The brain responds to the presence of a virus in the body by raising the body temperature. Certain viruses, such as the malaria virus, can cause the baby’s fever to come and go.

* Bacterial infections

When the immune system detects bacteria in the body, it signals the brain to increase the core temperature. A fever also occurs when the bacteria release toxins into the bloodstream.

* Immunization

Fever could be noted as a side-effect of vaccination. Infants get immunized for several diseases and may display a rise in temperature after vaccination. However, immunization fevers are low-grade and temporary and usually go away in a day.

* Overdressing

An overdressed baby may have a warm body or forehead, but no fever. However, leaving a baby swaddled in layers of clothing, especially during summer, may eventually cause a fever.

* Dehydration

Low fluid intake and dehydration (due to vomiting and loose motions) can cause the body temperature to rise. Newborns and two or three-day-old infants who are entirely reliant on breast milk for hydration may also get dehydrated and get a fever.

* Heat stroke and exhaustion

Heat stroke can also lead to a fever, but with temperatures of over 105°F (40.5°C). Heat exhaustion causes a short, mild fever with the temperature between 100 – 102°F (37.8 – 39°C) (8). Both problems are a direct result of exposure to hot weather conditions.

* Teething

It causes a low-grade fever and never a rise in temperature of 100.4°F (38°C).

* In-utero infections

Sometimes, a baby is born with a fever due to an infection contracted in the amniotic sack. This could be due to maternal diseases or damage to the uterus during gestation, such as premature rupture of membranes or an in-utero infection alled as chorioamnionitis, where the baby develops a fever immediately after birth or a few days after (causing newborn early onset or late onset sepsis). It happens when the bacteria invade the amniotic fluid and placenta.