know more. worry less.
Wondering which of Tuesday's Two Truths and a Non Truth about FEVER was actually a non truth?
Let's find out...
1. Any baby under 3 months who has a fever should be seen by a doctor asap. TRUE
Your baby's immune system is still developing during the first 3 months of her life. Her immune system is what fights germs so without a fully functioning system she is more susceptible to infections. Therefore, yes, any baby under 3 months with a fever should be seen by a doctor right away.
2. Baby aspirin is the best treatment for infants who have a fever. FALSE
It's tricky because hello, it says "baby" right on the bottle but the truth is you should never give aspirin to children. Aspirin can cause liver failure in children with certain infections so it's best to go with appropriately dosed Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen- give this only if your baby is 6 months or older, stick with acetaminophen if baby is under 6 months) alternating every 3 hours for maximum effect. Be aware that medications that contain aspirin may also be labeled salicylate.
3. A rectal temperature gives the most accurate reading, particularly in infants under 1 year. TRUE
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends taking a rectal temperature using a digital (no more mercury thermometers please!) thermometer for the most accurate temperature reading in babies.
know more. worry less.
No comments:
Post a Comment