Parents who have second thoughts on giving their feverish infant a bath can take comfort in knowing that pediatricians actually encourage the act.
“Babies can be bathed even if they have a fever, especially if they’re active and playful,” Dr. Cheryl Senal, a pediatrician at Westlake Medical Center, says.
“However, if they’re feeling dizzy or have difficulty getting up, it would be better to do the sponge bath. This will help lower their fever, which could reach a temperature of 37.8°C or more.”
She also encourges parents to give their child paracetamol to help the little tot feel better.
Phlegm but no fever
According to Dr. Senal, when a child seems to have “phlegm” but has no fever, pediatricians would like to know if the baby has cough, cold, or difficulty breathing.
“Is the breathing fast, deep, or noisy? If your answer is “no” or you haven’t observed it, then maybe the “phlegm” you’re hearing or feeling on your baby’s chest is what we call gurgly chest or “halak,” a common occurrence among infants, especially those less than six months old,” Dr. Senal explains.
“Halak usually happens when the baby’s secretion or saliva accumulates in their mouth or upper airways and it creates a vibration or sound due to their small chest.”
She advises parents to consult a pediatrician immediately if their baby shows any of the conditions she mentioned.
Rashes with fever
When your baby is getting a severe case of the rash and it’s accompanied by a fever, Dr. Senal suggests bringing them to their pediatrician. The doctor will determine if your child is manifesting symptoms of diseases such as measles, roseola, hand foot, and mouth disease, or chickenpox.
If your child’s fever seems to not get any better, you can visit Westlake Medical Center. To get expert medical advice regularly, follow Westlake Medical Center at https://www.facebook.com/WestlakeMedCenterPH/ and https://www.tiktok.com/@wmctiktok.