Signs of Serious Illness in Babies and Children
It is not unusual for your baby to have a fever, especially if they have older brothers and sisters. Having infections is an important aspect of your kids health. It is how little bodies learn to fight infections. It is important to look out for signs of serious illness and to know when to take your infant to the doctor.
Signs of Serious Illness in an Infant.
You should take your baby to the doctor when you see these signs and symptoms:
- High pitched, weak or continuous cry
- Irritable
- Floppy and unresponsive
- Bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on the baby’s head)
- Not drinking or feeding
- A temperature over 37.5 in a baby less than 2 months old
- Pale
- Blue
- Fits
- Breathing Problems (see Breathing Problems and Noisy Breathing)
- Non blanching or petechial rash
- Very sleepy and lethargic
- Vomiting more than 2 times in a day
- Lots of diarrhea
- Neck stiffness
- Signs of dehydration
- Vomit that is red, black or bright green
Toddler Temperature and Signs of Serious Illness
Toddlers are beginning to be able to tell you what is wrong with them. It is not always accurate as they often don’t understand, but it can be a good indication.
You should go to the doctor if you see any of the following signs or symptoms:
- High pitched, weak or continuous cry
- Irritable
- Floppy and unresponsive
- Bulging fontanelle (the soft spot on the baby’s head)
- Not drinking or feeding
- Pale
- Blue
- Fits
- Breathing Problems (see Breathing Problems and Noisy Breathing)
- Non blanching or petechial rash
- Very sleepy and lethargic
- Vomiting more than 2 times in a day (see Vomiting and Vomiting in Babies)
- Lots of diarrhea
- Neck stiffness
- Signs of dehydration
- Vomit that is red, black or bright green
- Head aches
- Tummy aches (see Tummy Aches in Children)
- Pain when doing a wee (see Urinary Tract Infections in Children)
You should also take them to the doctor if
- They get worse
- You are worried
- You are not happy looking after them at home
What to do when your Baby under 2 months has a Fever
- Fever above 37.5 °C go to the doctor.
- Do not give them any medicine unless directed by your doctor. Your doctor will want to see how they are without any medicine to get a true picture of how unwell they are.
- Allow them to feed. If they are breast fed, they will probably want to feed more often.
- Dress them in loose, light clothing. Do not over or under dress them.
- Room temperature should be comfortable, not too hot or too cold.
- Allow them to sleep.
What to do when your Toddler or Baby over 2 months has a Fever
- Above 38.0 go to the doctor.
- Allow them to feed. If they are breast fed, they will probably want to feed more often.
- Dress them in loose, light clothing. Do not over or under dress them.
- Room temperature should be comfortable, not too hot or too cold.
- Allow them to sleep.
- You can also give them some over the counter medicine to make them feel more comfortable (it won’t take away the infection, it just makes them feel better.)
Having a fever is a routine part of your kids health. It is part of growing up. Normally a fever is mild and your child gets better in a few day. It is important to know about signs of serious illness so that you can seek medical advice as soon as possible.
See Also: Sign of Dehydration
Feeding Toddlers.
Would you like your kids to eat more healthily? Check out the book!