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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Fever And Loose Motion In An Infant?

My Baby who is seven montrh old, has a fever 101. He has passed soft and watery stool more than 11 times since morning. He has fever from 48 hours now, but it comes and goes. I showed him to Dr yesterday and she said wait for 2-3 days. His head and chest is more warmer and legs and hands are cold as usual.
posted on Fri, 14 Mar 2014
Twitter Wed, 19 Oct 2016 Answered on
Twitter Wed, 19 Oct 2016 Last reviewed on
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi thanks for posting on HCM. I understand your worry. According to your description it's likely that your baby has developed an acute infection probably viral gastroenteritis as he passes watery loose stool. Fever is due to the infection. In infants it's usually head and trunk become more warm as their surface area to body ratio is high than adults. In other words more heat is passing out from larger surface areas like head and neck. However if the baby continues to have loose stool he might get dehydrated and which can manifest as cold peripheries like hand and feet, in that case you should seek immediate medical attention as some time he may need IV Saline to prevent hypovolemic shock. So if you feel his hands and feet unusually cold its better to admit him to hospital soon. If he can take orally (oral rehydration fluids) to compensate what he looses he may be fine and infection usually settled by day 3 to 5. However if the baby become I'll looking and less active he should have blood counts done to exclude bacterial sepsis as well. Hope the answer is helpful. If you need further you are welcome to ask.
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What Causes Fever And Loose Motion In An Infant?

Hi thanks for posting on HCM. I understand your worry. According to your description it s likely that your baby has developed an acute infection probably viral gastroenteritis as he passes watery loose stool. Fever is due to the infection. In infants it s usually head and trunk become more warm as their surface area to body ratio is high than adults. In other words more heat is passing out from larger surface areas like head and neck. However if the baby continues to have loose stool he might get dehydrated and which can manifest as cold peripheries like hand and feet, in that case you should seek immediate medical attention as some time he may need IV Saline to prevent hypovolemic shock. So if you feel his hands and feet unusually cold its better to admit him to hospital soon. If he can take orally (oral rehydration fluids) to compensate what he looses he may be fine and infection usually settled by day 3 to 5. However if the baby become I ll looking and less active he should have blood counts done to exclude bacterial sepsis as well. Hope the answer is helpful. If you need further you are welcome to ask.