Why Infants Often Get Fever?
Fever is a sign of interaction between antigen and the host’s defense mechanism. The body maintains normal core body temperature at a set point of 37°C (98.6°F), within a narrow range of 1 – 1.5 °C. Heat generation (increased cell metabolism, muscle activity, involuntary shivering) and heat conservation (vasoconstriction, heat preference behavior) are balanced against heat loss {evaporation-radiation-convection-conduction), vasodilatation, sweating and cold preference behavior. Auxiliary temperature may be 1°C lower than core temperature. When a rise in temperature is not associated with tachycardia, chills, and sweating, a fictitious fever should be suspected. Normal body temperatures in a well child can range from 97.7 degrees F / 36.5 degrees C to 100 degrees F / 37.8 degrees C. Babies have higher temperatures than older children, and everyone’s temperature tends to go up during the day and down after midnight. In general, a baby isn’t considered feverish unless her temperature is o
