Fever in Newborns: Treatment for Babies Who Otherwise Seem Well
When an infant younger than two months old develops a fever, it is natural for families and their pediatricians to be concerned. While most fevers do not lead to severe illness, it can be challenging to immediately identify the cause of a baby’s fever while avoiding unnecessary tests or hospitalizations.
The American Academy of Pediatrics addresses the many questions raised in evaluating otherwise well-appearing infants between 8-60 days old who develop a fever at or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in a new clinical practice guideline. The guideline, “Evaluation and Management of Well-Appearing Febrile Infants 8–60 Days Old,” is published in the August 2021 Pediatrics.
