{"id":2178822,"date":"2019-10-07T15:08:57","date_gmt":"2019-10-07T19:08:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.futurity.org\/?p=2178822"},"modified":"2019-10-07T15:08:57","modified_gmt":"2019-10-07T19:08:57","slug":"infants-fever-infection-2178822","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.futurity.org\/infants-fever-infection-2178822\/","title":{"rendered":"Infants with high fever have double the risk of infection"},"content":{"rendered":"
Infants with a high fever may be at increased risk for infections, according to new research.<\/p>\n
In a new study, researchers determined that for an infant less than eight weeks old, having a fever was associated with a doubled risk for developing serious bacterial infections, including meningitis and infections of the blood or urinary tract.<\/p>\n
Based on the findings, the researchers encourage parents of infants younger than eight weeks old to seek immediate care if their child develops a fever\u2014a temperature more than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>\n
Joshua Davis, an emergency medicine resident at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, says that identifying criteria that can increase an infant’s risk for infection is crucial.<\/p>\n
“Young infants have underdeveloped immune systems and are susceptible to infection,” Davis says. “Those with serious bacterial infections can experience a rapid decline in their condition if they are not diagnosed within an appropriate amount of time.”<\/p>\n