Baby fever? Don't delay! Wednesday, April 25, 2012 A fever in an
infant can represent something as simple as a mild virus to
something serious like meningitis. A baby with a serious
infection can start off looking good, but can get worse fast, so
any fever in an infant during the first three months of life
requires immediate attention. Parents may first notice that
their baby feels warm. That's called a "tactile temperature" and
while a parent's suspicions are sometimes correct, it's
important to take the baby's temperature using a thermometer.
According to Dr. Dan Johnson, associate professor and specialist
in pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Chicago,
parents should avoid the use of thermometers that take the
temperature on the forehead or in the ear because they can be
inaccurate. Instead, Johnson recommends a digital thermometer
under the arm or in the rectum. Parents should call their doctor
if the infant's temperature is 100.5 degrees or more in either
location. Most doctors will want t