How to reduce fever in a newborn baby

Oct 08, 2022 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Xie Zixing

Introduction

A newborn with a mild fever can usually be managed with physical cooling methods if the body temperature does not exceed 38.5°C and the baby's mental state is good. These methods include giving more warm water to drink, wiping the newborn's armpits, palms, and soles with warm, damp towels, and using fever-reducing patches. If the temperature exceeds 38.5°C, medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may be administered to reduce the fever.

If a newborn has a mild fever, physical or medication-based cooling methods can generally be chosen depending on the specific situation.

If the newborn's body temperature does not exceed 38.5°C and the baby is in good spirits, physical cooling is usually recommended. Family members can loosen the baby's clothing and avoid wrapping too tightly, offer plenty of warm water to promote heat dissipation. Additionally, wiping the baby's armpits, palms, and soles with a warm damp towel may help. Fever-reducing patches can also be applied to the forehead, palms, and soles to assist in lowering the temperature.

If the body temperature exceeds 38.5°C and physical cooling methods are ineffective, resulting in persistent high fever, prompt medical attention is necessary. Under a doctor's guidance, medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen should be administered to reduce the fever. It is important to give the newborn sufficient fluids to prevent dehydration or electrolyte imbalance due to excessive sweating. Meanwhile, regularly monitor the baby’s body temperature to track changes and prevent complications such as febrile seizures.

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Symptoms of fever in newborns

Fever in newborns can cause elevated body temperature, sometimes rising above 40°C, along with cold hands and feet. Physical discomfort may make the newborn irritable and prone to crying. If symptoms are not relieved, sleep quality may be affected, leading to poor mental state. In some cases, gastrointestinal function may also be impaired, resulting in loss of appetite, reduced milk intake, and even vomiting in severe cases.

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What are the symptoms of fever in newborns?

Fever generally refers to an elevated body temperature. In newborns, fever usually presents with symptoms such as body heat, physical exhaustion, or persistent crying. Newborns have underdeveloped bodies and tend to become physically weak when they develop a fever. If they sweat excessively and do not receive timely fluid replacement, dehydration can easily occur, leading to physical collapse and symptoms such as lethargy and fatigue.

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Can air conditioning be used when a newborn has a fever?

Newborns with fever can generally have the air conditioning turned on, but the temperature should be set appropriately and not too low. If a newborn has a fever during hot summer months when indoor temperatures are high, using air conditioning is usually acceptable. Excessively high room temperatures can hinder the newborn's heat dissipation; therefore, appropriate use of air conditioning can help facilitate recovery from illness.