Can a baby's heat rash cause a fever?

Apr 17, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Zhou Xiaofeng

Introduction

In most cases, babies with heat rash do not develop a fever, although certain special circumstances may exist. Heat rash is caused by blockage of the sweat gland ducts in high temperature and humid environments, leading to poor sweat excretion. The accumulated sweat remains within the sweat gland ducts, causing them to rupture and allowing sweat to leak into the surrounding tissues, resulting in a superficial inflammatory reaction. It mainly presents as densely clustered small papules on the skin.

In most cases, babies with痱子 (heat rash) do not develop a fever, but certain special situations may exist. Detailed analysis is as follows:

Heat rash is caused by blocked sweat gland ducts in high temperature and humid environments, leading to poor sweat drainage. The accumulated sweat remains within the sweat gland ducts, causing them to rupture. The sweat then leaks into surrounding tissues, triggering a superficial inflammatory reaction. It mainly presents as densely clustered small papules or vesicles on the skin, accompanied by itching or a prickling sensation.

However, in some special cases, heat rash may lead to fever. If a baby scratches the rash due to itching, causing skin damage, bacteria may invade and cause a local infection, such as impetigo. Severe infections can lead to systemic inflammatory responses, resulting in fever. Additionally, if a baby develops other infectious diseases along with heat rash—such as a cold or pneumonia—fever may occur. In such cases, the fever is not solely caused by the heat rash itself, but rather by other infectious factors.

Therefore, heat rash in babies generally does not directly cause fever. However, it is important to maintain skin hygiene, avoid scratching, and prevent secondary infections. If a baby develops a fever along with heat rash, prompt medical attention should be sought to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment.

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