Feeding baby during fever

When your baby or infant has a fever: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

The first fever a baby or infant has is often scary for parents. Most fevers are harmless and are caused by mild infections. Overdressing a child may even cause a rise in temperature.

Regardless, you should report any fever in a newborn that is higher than 100.4°F (38°C) (taken rectally) to the child's health care provider.

Fever is an important part of the body's defense against infection. Many older infants develop high fevers with even minor illnesses.

Febrile seizures occur in some children and can be scary to parents. However, most febrile seizures are over quickly. These seizures do not mean your child has epilepsy, and do not cause any lasting harm.

Your child should drink plenty of fluids.

Do not give your baby any fruit juice.
Babies should drink breast milk or formula.
If they are vomiting, then an electrolyte drink such as Pedialyte is recommended.

Children can eat foods when they have a fever. But do not force them to eat.

Children who are ill often tolerate bland foods better. A bland diet includes foods that are soft, not very spicy, and low in fiber. You may try:

Breads, crackers, and pastas made with refined white flour.
Refined hot cereals, such as oatmeal or cream of wheat.

Do not bundle up a child with blankets or extra clothes, even if the child has the chills. This may keep the fever from coming down, or make it go higher.

Try one layer of lightweight clothing, and one lightweight blanket for sleep.
The room should be comfortable, not too hot or too cool. If the room is hot or stuffy, a fan may help.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) help lower fever in children. Your child's doctor may tell you to use both types of medicine.

In children under 3 months of age, call your child's provider first before giving them medicines.
Know how much your child weighs. Then always check the instructions on the package.
Take acetaminophen every 4 to 6 hours.
Take ibuprofen every 6 to 8 hours. Do not use ibuprofen in children younger than 6 months old.
Do not give aspirin to children unless your child's provider tells you it is OK.

A fever does not need to come all the way down to normal. Most children will feel better when their temperature drops by even one degree.

A lukewarm bath or sponge bath may help cool a fever.

Lukewarm baths work better if the child also gets medicine. Otherwise, the temperature might bounce right back up.
Do not use cold baths, ice, or alcohol rubs. These often make the situation worse by causing shivering.

Contact your child's provider or go to the emergency room when:

Your child does not act alert or more comfortable when their fever goes down
Fever symptoms come back after they had gone away
The child does not make tears when crying
Your child does not have wet diapers or has not urinated in the past 8 hours

Also, contact your child's provider or go to the emergency room if your child:

Is younger than age 3 months and has a rectal temperature of 100. 4°F (38°C) or higher.
Is 3 to 12 months old and has a fever of 102.2°F (39°C) or higher.
Is under age 2 and has a fever that lasts longer than 48 hours.
Has a fever over 105°F (40.5°C), unless the fever comes down readily with treatment and the child is comfortable.
Has had fevers come and go for up to a week or more, even if they are not very high.
Has other symptoms that suggest an illness may need to be treated, such as a sore throat, earache, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, or a cough.
Has a serious medical illness, such as a heart problem, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, or cystic fibrosis.
Recently had an immunization.

Call 911 or the local emergency number if your child has a fever and:

Is crying and cannot be calmed down
Cannot be awakened easily or at all
Seems confused
Cannot walk
Has difficulty breathing, even after their nose is cleared
Has blue lips, tongue, or nails
Has a very bad headache
Has a stiff neck
Refuses to move an arm or leg
Has a seizure
Has a new rash or bruises appear

Fever - infant; Fever - baby

Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM. Fever without a focus. In: Marcdante KJ, Kliegman RM, eds. Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 96.

Mick NW. Pediatric fever. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 166.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Community-acquired pneumonia in adults
Cough
Fever
Flu
h2N1 influenza (Swine flu)
Immune response
Stuffy or runny nose - children

Colds and the flu - what to ask your doctor - child

Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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Should you breastfeed your baby when you have a fever?

By -

TIMESOFINDIA. COM

Created: Jun 24, 2020, 12:00 IST

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No one likes getting sick. But for a new mom, it's even more problematic as she has to breastfeed her little one.
As per experts, it is safe to feed a baby during fever. The chances of you passing the fever to your baby through breastfeeding are very rare. In fact, your breastmilk carries antibodies that your body is making to fight the infection. These same antibodies can help your baby too. In fact, chances of your baby getting infected from you are more than getting infected by the breastmilk.

Medication during breastfeeding

Just like in your pregnancy, you have to careful about the medicines you take. It is said Paracetamol and ibuprofen are usually safe but one should not have ibuprofen if they have asthma or ulcer. One should also not take Aspirin as it can be harmful to your baby when passed through the breastmilk.
If your fever doesn't go away in three days, it's best to visit your doctor along with your baby. Ask your doctor to prescribe you medicines that will not be harmful to the baby. If your doctor asks you not to feed your baby while on medication, you can pump and dump your milk.

Pump and dump means pumping your breasts and then dumping that milk. This is important to be done if you are not allowed to breastfeed as it helps keep up your milk supply for nursing your baby in future.

You can give your baby formula milk after consulting the doctor. Sometimes, it is allowed to feed the baby right before you have to take medication. Ask your doctor if that is applicable in your case.

Verdict

So, unless you have specifically been told not to breastfeed the baby, keep doing it. Not breastfeeding can lead to fuller breasts, which can cause mastitis and worsen your fever.

Stopping breastfeeding for a longer period of time can also reduce the production of the breastmilk, which can make it difficult for your baby.

Precautions to take to reduce the risk of passing on the fever to baby

- Wash or sanitize your hands frequently, especially before picking and breastfeeding the baby.

- Cover your nose and mouth while coughing and sneezing.

- Throw the used tissues straight into the dustbin.

- Do not touch your baby's pacifier.

- Do not kiss the baby when ill.

End of the article

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Nutrition in feverish conditions

Fever is a state of the body in which the body temperature rises above the normal level. Fever usually indicates an infectious disease, the temperature in these cases rarely exceeds 40.5 °. But the cause of fever can also be a non-communicable disease, such as cancer. Some types of fever - love or gold - are not directly related to oncology and are not considered here.

At its core, fever is considered an adaptive response, but if the temperature is too high or prolonged, it can be harmful. Unfortunately, fever often accompanies cancer. Most febrile conditions are characterized by intoxication of the body to one degree or another. Antibiotics and hormones are considered the main and targeted means of treating fever in cancer patients. But nutrition in febrile conditions also plays an important role. nine0003

The main goal is to maintain the overall strength of the body, increase its resistance, reduce the inflammatory process and intoxication. In some (not the most favorable) periods of oncological diseases, the temperature can be high. In these cases, the calorie content of the diet for a short time can be reduced by limiting carbohydrates, proteins and fats; should reduce the amount of salt in the diet. At the same time, the amount of vitamins, especially ascorbic acid, and foods rich in calcium salts are increased. First of all, plenty of drinking is shown to ensure increased heat transfer due to increased sweating (compote, sweetened tea, rosehip broth). The use of fresh milk should be limited, and the intake of ascorbic acid can be increased by 1.5-2 times; in the diet to focus on plant foods. nine0003

During bed rest and high temperature, food should be gentle for the organs of the cardiovascular, digestive systems and for the functioning of the kidneys. A beneficial effect is provided by food containing a large amount of phosphorus and manganese salts (liver pate, baked salmon, egg yolk, almonds, liver, oatmeal, cranberries). The set of products should be varied, it should be dominated by easily digestible foods that do not contribute to increased gas formation, bloating and constipation. Although it is unlikely that all these requirements will be met by products containing phosphorus and manganese (with the exception of oatmeal). The diet should actively use foods rich in B vitamins: meat, fish, yeast, etc. - It has a positive effect on the work of the intestines. As sources of easily digestible protein and calcium, dairy products are especially important with the mandatory inclusion of sour-milk drinks. Whole milk is used only in dishes. Food is cooked in chopped and pureed form, boiled in water and steamed. Both cold and very hot drinks and dishes are excluded, as well as spicy, salty, pickled foods, spicy seasonings and sauces. Increase the amount of free fluid to 1.5-2 liters per day due to diluted juices from fruits and berries, rosehip broth. Drinking plenty of tea with lemon, fruit drinks, liquid jelly, compotes, etc. We must not forget that at a high temperature that lasts for a long time, the diet should provide enough nutrients and energy to maintain the physical condition of the patient and make up for the loss of proteins, vitamins and mineral salts. nine0003

In case of very high temperatures, liquid food is preferable: semi-sweet tea with lemon, juices and fruit drinks from various fruits and berries, mineral water without gas, thorn broth and strong fat-free meat broth, low-fat sour-milk products. At the first signs of improvement in the condition and the appearance of appetite, soups on broth or vegetable broth, with boiled semolina, rice, oatmeal or vermicelli, soufflé and mashed meat, soft-boiled eggs, boiled fish, cottage cheese, mashed with cream, fruits and vegetables puree, baked apples, etc. The diet should drastically limit fats. nine0003

At high temperature and bed rest, a low-energy diet (2000-2100 kcal) is indicated, mainly due to a decrease in fats and carbohydrates and, as we have already said, with an increase in calcium content (dairy products), salt restriction (with profuse sweating, salt intake may be increased).

The second goal of diet therapy is aimed at reducing the inflammatory process, increasing the immunological state of the body, sparing the organs of the cardiovascular and digestive systems, and preventing possible side effects of antibiotics. This is achieved by prescribing a complete diet with a sufficient amount of protein, a high content of vitamins. nine0003

The anti-inflammatory effect, in addition to antibiotics and hormones, is provided by the restriction of carbohydrates (up to 200-250 g), salt and an increase in foods rich in calcium salts (the amount of milk, kefir and fermented baked milk, etc. increases). The diet should be enriched with B vitamins, which prevent the suppression of the intestinal microflora with antibiotics, as well as ascorbic acid, betacarotene. Recommended dishes from meat, fish, cottage cheese, eggs. Once again, we recall fruit and vegetable juices, cranberry juice, blackcurrant broth. Decreasing sodium with salt and increasing dietary calcium also have anti-inflammatory benefits. nine0003

To ensure the immune defense of the body, it is necessary to use a sufficient amount of protein in the diet, primarily through the use of dairy products, eggs and fish, as well as the additional intake of multivitamins, which should contain vitamins C and A.

In order to reduce the effects of intoxication drinking plenty (1. 5-1 l or more) of drinks containing vitamin C is shown: sweet and sour juices diluted with water, fruits and berries, rosehip broth, tea with lemon, fruit drinks, compotes. Be sure to include fermented milk drinks in the diet, which normalize the state of intestinal microflora and intestinal activity, provide the body with easily digestible protein and calcium. Whole milk is used only in dishes. Food is given 5-6 times a day in small portions. Useful: rosehip broth and juices - grape and carrot. To reduce severe intoxication, solutions of 5% glucose or sodium chloride 0.5 to 1.5 liters are administered (intravenously). nine0003

In case of poor appetite, moderately salty snacks (soaked herring, ham, caviar, etc.), pickled, pickled and spicy vegetables, tomato and other juices, dry grape wine are used.

In prolonged fever accompanied by emaciation, increased nutrition is indicated. Its goal is to provide the body with good nutrition in the conditions of protein breakdown, deterioration in the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates, and increased consumption of vitamins and minerals. Depending on the taste of the patient, various types of meat, poultry and fish can be sources of protein, excluding fatty foods. It is advisable to use dishes from the liver. It is necessary to use special food mixtures. nine0003

When the temperature rises due to the appearance of stomatitis (infection of the oral cavity and after it), it is necessary to strictly follow the diet. General recommendations are as follows: exclude sweets, milk and dairy products, cereals with milk, concentrated and sweet juices, sweet fruits, fatty, fried, etc. You can only eat sparing food: double broths from "lean" meat, liquid mashed potatoes, boiled cauliflower and carrots, baked apples, bananas.

Breastfeeding temperature

07.07.2022

When someone develops a temperature and fever, it certainly causes excitement, and especially if such symptoms appear in a nursing mother. This is the first "bell" that something is wrong in a woman's body. The most dangerous is the temperature exceeding the threshold of 37. 3 - this indicates that some inflammatory process has begun in the body, or that you do not have enough normal rest. When this happens, the first thing a woman asks herself is, is it possible to continue breastfeeding in this situation? nine0003

Many "experienced" people, having heard about the temperature of a young mother, immediately start sounding a false alarm: if a woman has a cold or falls ill with SARS, she should in no case continue to breastfeed her baby ! It is not true! Rather, on the contrary: at this time, the mother develops protective antibodies, which she can pass on to the child with milk - in this way, the baby receives a large share of its immunity . And plus, think about the fact that even weaning a child from breast , you will still be in the same room with him, play with him, feed him, pick him up, etc., that is, the infection can pass from you to the child no less.

The chance of transmitting bacteria through saliva or hands is much higher than through breast milk. In addition, if the child is still very small, then transferring him to artificial nutrition is much more dangerous than continuing to eat milk from a mother who has a cold. After all, the woman will soon recover, but the child will be left without the most valuable food for him. Real need to stop feeding breastfeeding is very rare and is determined by specialists, and this is completely unrelated to common colds. Therefore, if the temperature during lactation is due to a mild virus, then it is not necessary to stop breastfeeding. It is better to remember that the infection should not spread to other members of your family. To protect them as much as possible, wear a gauze mask for any contact with the baby, wash your hands often and use only personal utensils and towels.

Why can't you stop feeding at a temperature?

Breastfeeding at fever should not be stopped for other reasons. Here are the main ones: If your mammary glands are not released from milk in time, then you risk earning a violation in their work. In the worst cases, such violations end with mastitis or lactostasis. Mother's milk is the best medicine for a baby. So, if you get sick and still infected the baby, then on the contrary, it is worth feeding him breastfeeding : this way you will give him all the necessary nutrients and antibodies that will ensure a speedy recovery.

If you stop breastfeeding your baby , you will still have to express milk (and you need to do this at least 6 times a day), which is especially painful when you have a temperature. The milk you express will need to be boiled, and temperature treatment, as you know, kills most of the nutrients contained in milk. If your temperature has risen above normal due to diseases of the cardiovascular system, diseases kidneys or kidney failure, due to problems with lungs and liver - then yes, in this case, breastfeeding really should be stopped. And if the temperature has risen due to menstruation or ovulation, as well as due to possible overeating and / or heavy loads, then you should not worry and you can safely continue breastfeeding. If your body temperature does not rise above 38.5 degrees, then you should not bring it down. But if the thermometer shows above this mark, then try lowering it with paracetamol or ibuprofen. Aspirin tablets can cause serious effects on a child's health, so it should not be used as an antipyretic and/or pain reliever. nine0003

Treatment with antibiotics

If the temperature rises due to concomitant diseases such as mastitis, pneumonia or tonsillitis , then antibiotic treatment is necessary. Most modern antibiotic preparations, however strange it may seem, are still safe during lactation, although there is still a small chance of harming the baby. However, antibiotics should still be prescribed to you only by the attending physician , and he will certainly select such pills that would be safe for breastfeeding. If you get sick and doctor has prescribed medication for you, remember the following: