Signs of Bacterial Infection in Babies: A Parent's Guide

Fevers and fussiness are part of raising a baby most of the time. They're caused by common viruses that simply need to run their course. But some symptoms point to a bacterial infection, which usually needs a pediatrician's evaluation and, often, antibiotic treatment. Because young infants can't tell you what's wrong, it's important for parents to know what to watch for.

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Fever is one of the most common reasons parents bring a baby in to be seen, and it's a normal sign that the body is fighting an  viral or bacterial infection. Most fevers in infants and children are caused by viruses and resolve on their own. However, a smaller share are caused by bacterial infections that require medical treatment. In babies younger than 2–3 months, this distinction matters even more: because a young infant's immune system is still developing, pediatricians and emergency doctors take any fever in this age group seriously, since roughly 1 in 10 fevers in very young infants turns out to be bacterial rather than viral.

A few of the bacterial infections pediatricians see most often in infants include:

• Urinary tract infections (UTIs) — In babies, a UTI may show up as fever and fussiness alone, without the more obvious urinary symptoms (like pain with urination) seen in older children. UTIs are common in infancy and are treated with antibiotics once diagnosed with a urine test.
• Ear infections — Often follow a cold; may cause fussiness, ear-pulling, or trouble sleeping.
• Bacterial pinkeye (conjunctivitis) — Causes redness with thick discharge; treated with antibiotic drops or ointment, unlike viral pinkeye.
• Bacterial meningitis — Rare, especially with current childhood immunizations, but serious. Watch for fever, unusual sleepiness or irritability, poor feeding, or a stiff neck.
• Sepsis (bloodstream infection) — A medical emergency in newborns; can present as high or unexpectedly low body temperature, fast or slow heart rate, fast breathing, or poor feeding.
  

• Fever in a baby younger than 3 months (any temperature at or above 100.4°F rectally)
• Fever accompanied by unusual fussiness, lethargy, or difficulty waking
• Poor feeding or noticeably fewer wet diapers
• Vomiting that won't stop, or signs of dehydration
• A rash that doesn't fade when pressed, especially with fever
• Ear pulling, eye discharge, or a cough that's getting worse instead of better
  

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