Question
What should be the normal body temperature for a 6-month-old baby? I took their temperature today and it was 37.3 degrees. Is this normal? I want to know if they have a fever.
Answer
The normal body temperature for an infant typically ranges between 36.0℃ and 37.0℃. Generally, a temperature below the baseline by more than 1℃ is considered a fever. A low-grade fever is around 38℃, while a high-grade fever is above 39℃. If the temperature is below 38.5 degrees, it’s important to have a doctor diagnose whether it’s a viral or bacterial infection. For viral infections, antiviral medication can be used, and for bacterial infections, antibiotics. Don’t rush to reduce the fever, as it is just a symptom. Find the cause first. In the meantime, you can use fever-reducing patches.