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Infant Has Fever, Fussiness, And Diarrhea. Should I Contact The Doctor?
Question: I have a 5 week 1 day old baby with a rectal temp of 99.4 with fussiness and diarrhea. Should I contact her Dr. for an appointment or is it nothing to worry about?
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
A rectal temperature of 99.4 would be considered normal for the newborn .
Usually fussiness in newborns could be due to bloating or gaseous distension , if your baby is passing frequent loose stools ( diarrhoea ) it's definitely worth visiting her pediatrician for confirmation ( whether viral or bacterial gastroenteritis ) and appropriate management .
Most diarrhoeas in babies are self limiting and if adequate hydration is maintained then it should resolve on its own or with supportive therapy in 3-4 days .
If the diarrhoea is worsening or baby develops high fever, decreased urination , excessive crying or refusal to feed then you should consult her doctor immediately .
As of now you should most importantly keep her well hydrated with frequent breastfeeding ( on demand) and monitor her temperature and stool frequency .
At the same time you should get an appointment as soon as feasible to get a confirmation of the diagnosis & appropriate treatment like zinc and probiotic supplements if needed.
Hope I have answered your query.
Kindly accept my answer if you have no further queries.
Regards
Thanks for posting your query.
A rectal temperature of 99.4 would be considered normal for the newborn .
Usually fussiness in newborns could be due to bloating or gaseous distension , if your baby is passing frequent loose stools ( diarrhoea ) it's definitely worth visiting her pediatrician for confirmation ( whether viral or bacterial gastroenteritis ) and appropriate management .
Most diarrhoeas in babies are self limiting and if adequate hydration is maintained then it should resolve on its own or with supportive therapy in 3-4 days .
If the diarrhoea is worsening or baby develops high fever, decreased urination , excessive crying or refusal to feed then you should consult her doctor immediately .
As of now you should most importantly keep her well hydrated with frequent breastfeeding ( on demand) and monitor her temperature and stool frequency .
At the same time you should get an appointment as soon as feasible to get a confirmation of the diagnosis & appropriate treatment like zinc and probiotic supplements if needed.
Hope I have answered your query.
Kindly accept my answer if you have no further queries.
Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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