Patient's question:
What is the appropriate body temperature for a 6-month-old baby? I measured it today and it was 37.3°C. Is that normal? No, I want to know if it's a fever.Doctor's answer:
The normal basal body temperature of a healthy child is between 36.0℃ and 37.0℃. Generally, a temperature that is more than 1℃ lower than the baseline can be considered a fever. Among these, low-grade fever refers to a temperature fluctuating around 38℃, while high fever is when the temperature is above 39℃. If the low-grade fever is above 38.5℃, it is important to have a doctor diagnose whether it is a viral infection or a bacterial infection. For viral infections, antiviral medication should be used, and for bacterial infections, antibiotics should be administered. Do not rush to reduce the fever, as it is only a symptom. The underlying cause must be identified. Temporarily using a fever patch is acceptable.