When your youngbaby has a fever, it’s important to call your pediatrician.
Sometimes infants can be sent home and scheduled for a follow-up visit to the pediatrician.
What Causes Babies to Have a Fever?
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Just like older children, a baby’s fever can be resulting from a viral infection.
Does Your Baby Really Need a Spinal Tap for a Fever?
A spinal tap is an invasive test, but it is well-tolerated, and rarely has any complications.
In particular, every person who holds your baby should wash their hands thoroughly.
Those people who are unwelleven with a coldshould not touch or come too close to your baby.
Frequently Asked Questions
A spinal tap is also known as a lumbar puncture.
The procedure involves inserting a needle between two vertebrae to remove a sample of cerebrospinal fluid.
A spinal tap is used to diagnose nervous system infections such as meningitis and encephalitis.
A lumbar puncture is used to diagnose meningitis, encephalitis, and other conditions that affect the nervous system.
A rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher is considered a high fever in babies.
