What to do if a child has a fever

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

We answer the main questions about childhood fever: when a high temperature becomes dangerous, what medicines to buy at the pharmacy, and whether it is worth listening to the advice of grandmothers.

What is considered a high temperature

To begin with, let's figure out that each of us has a temperature and normally it is not necessarily 36, 6 ° C. This is the "hospital average" value, because in a healthy person it can range from 36, 1 to 37, 2 ° C and even change during the day. For example, to rise after eating or heavy exertion.

When we say "A child has a temperature," we mean fever - a condition in which the body temperature is elevated, that is, the thermometer under the arm shows more than 37.2 ° C.

If you put a thermometer rectally (in the rectum) or measure the temperature in the ear, then the values are usually higher. Then the fever is more than 38 ° C. When measured orally (in the mouth), it is above 37.8 ° C.

How to measure the temperature correctly →

Why does the temperature rise

Fever is the body's defensive reaction, usually to various infections. It is more difficult for bacteria and viruses to survive at high temperatures, so the body starts a process that destroys dangerous microorganisms, and at the same time activates the immune system.

The temperature in children rises more often due to respiratory viral infections, such as what we call the common cold. But this is not necessary: fever occurs in many other diseases. In addition to infections, injuries, overheating, cancer, hormonal and autoimmune diseases, and even some drugs that have side effects can be to blame for the temperature.

How to understand that a child has a temperature

Adults notice a high fever for specific symptoms:

1. Weaknesses.
2. Headache.
3. Feelings of chills and shivering.
4. Loss of appetite.
5. Muscle pain.
6. Sweating.

Children who already know how to talk may complain of discomfort. But the temperature also rises in babies who cannot describe their condition.

The reason to measure the temperature is unusual behavior of the child:

1. Refusal to eat or breast.
2. Tearfulness, irritability.
3. Sleepiness, fatigue, passivity.

You cannot talk about a fever based on a kiss on the forehead. High temperature is indicated only by a thermometer.

When and why to lower the temperature

Fever is a sign of a correct immune response when it comes to infections. Therefore, it should not be reduced in order not to postpone recovery. Usually, it makes sense to give antipyretics after the temperature has risen to 39 ° C - these are rectal measurements. When the temperature is checked under the arm, doctors recommend lowering it after 38.5 ° C, but not earlier. Don't worry, the fever itself isn't that bad.

Many fear that high temperatures will damage brain cells. But, according to the WHO, it is safe for children until it reaches 42 ° C.

Fever is not an independent disease, but only its symptom. When the temperature is lowered with drugs, the external manifestations of the disease are removed, but they are not cured.

In rare cases, too high a temperature in children leads to febrile seizures - involuntary muscle contractions. It looks creepy and makes the parents faint, but mostly the attacks stop by themselves and have no consequences. Call the doctors and make sure that the child does not injure himself: lay him on his side, hold him, open tight clothes. You don't need to put anything in your mouth, this only increases the risk of injury.

But everyone tolerates fever in different ways: someone can read and play on a thermometer even at 39 ° C, someone lies at 37.5 ° C and cannot move. Therefore, it is necessary to lower the temperature for the sake of convenience and improvement of the child's well-being.

If the child feels well, then nothing should be done with a high temperature.

How to lower the temperature

The easiest, fastest and most effective way is to give your child antipyretics based on ibuprofen or paracetamol. They are produced in forms that are convenient for children: sweet syrups or candles. Be careful when giving syrup to a child: flavors and dyes can cause allergies.

Do not under any circumstances exceed the dosage of the medication. It is usually calculated based on the weight of the child. Children, especially preschoolers, can vary greatly in weight even at the same age, so focus on the number of kilograms, not years.

Remember that drugs take time to work: from 0.5 to 1.5 hours. So do not rush to measure the temperature 10 minutes after taking the pill.

Use the measuring cups, spoons, and syringes that came with the medicine. Do not take medicine in the dark or in a teaspoon by eye: you always need to know how much and what medicines you gave your child.

To avoid overdose, do not give your toddler combination medicine for cold symptoms. They already contain paracetamol or another antipyretic agent, so it's easy to overlook if you are taking too many drugs at the same time.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen can be used on the same day, but do not get carried away and do not give everything to your child at once. If, for example, you gave paracetamol, and it did not help much, then when the time comes for a new dose of antipyretic, give ibuprofen (or vice versa).

Do not give aspirin and analgin; these can cause serious side effects in children.

There are also physical methods, however, ineffective: wipe the child's palms and feet with a damp towel, put a cool compress on the forehead. Just do not take ice for this, it is enough to soak a towel with water at room temperature.

When to call a doctor

Experienced parents know that you can cope with mild ARVI on your own, at home. In such cases, a doctor is needed only in order to write out a certificate or sick leave for the parents. But still, the pediatrician needs to appear if:

1. You need to get a doctor's advice, calm down. Or do you just think that your child needs medical attention.
2. A child with a fever is less than three months old.
3. The child is less than six months old, and the temperature above 38 ° C lasts more than 1 day.
4. The child is less than a year old, and the temperature above 39 ° C lasts for more than 1 day.
5. The child has a rash.
6. Together with the temperature, there are severe symptoms: uncontrolled cough, vomiting, severe pain, photophobia.

When to call an ambulance

You need to urgently seek help if:

1. The temperature has reached high values (more than 39 ° C) and after taking antipyretic drugs it continues to rise.
2. The child has a confused mind: he is too sleepy, he cannot be woken up, he does not react well to the environment.
3. Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
4. Vomiting was added to the temperature.
5. A rash appears in the form of small bruises that does not disappear when pressed on the skin.
6. Convulsions began.
7. There are signs of dehydration: the child rarely goes to the toilet, he has a dry mouth with a red tongue, he cries without tears. In infants, the fontanelle may sink.

How to help a child with a temperature

The main thing we can do to help in the fight against temperature is to eliminate its cause. If it is a bacterial infection, antibiotics are needed (only as directed by a doctor). If other diseases are to blame, they must be treated. And only viruses pass by themselves, you just need to support the body that will destroy these viruses.

Let's have a warm drink

At high temperatures, the moisture in the human body evaporates faster, so there is a risk of dehydration. This is especially true for children: they are small and need very little to lose 10% of their fluid. With a lack of water, the mucous membranes dry out, it becomes more difficult to breathe, the child has nothing to sweat with, that is, he cannot release heat himself. Therefore, drinking warm at a temperature is very, very important.

More often give your child juices, compotes, tea, water, persuade him to drink at least a few sips. Babies need to be offered breast more often, but if the baby refuses, it is better to give him water or a special drink than wait for him to return to breast milk.

Buy a humidifier

In order not to increase the loss of fluid with breathing (and we exhale steam, in which there is a lot of moisture from the mucous membranes), humidify the air in the room. To keep the relative humidity between 40-60%, it is best to buy a special air humidifier. But there are other ways you can try.

Get out

Damp the room every day: wash the floors and collect dust. Again, this is necessary to facilitate breathing. Do not be afraid to open the vents and ventilate. Fresh air is especially necessary for a person whose body is fighting disease, because ventilation is one of the ways to disinfect a room. It won't get any worse from the open window, but from the hot, dry and full of microbes air - it will.

By the way, the child can be bathed if he has a fever.

Of course, when the baby wants to sleep and lie down, there is no need to drag him to the bathroom. But if the general condition is normal, the child moves and plays, you can wash.

Follow your diet

Feed your child healthy food: do not give kilograms of candy just because he is sick. If the baby has no appetite, do not force him to eat. Eating a meal through force will not help in any way to cope with the infection. It is better to boil chicken broth and give it to the child: it is liquid, and food, and help in the fight against inflammation.

What can not be done at a child's temperature

The best way to survive an unpleasant period of illness without problems and losses is to provide your child with good care. For some reason (according to tradition, according to the advice of grandmothers, according to advice from the forums), many harmful actions are considered mandatory in the treatment of fever. How not to make mistakes:

1. Don't wrap your child up … If the temperature is high, then warm clothes and two blankets will only aggravate the process. Better to persuade you to drink another cup of warm compote.
2. Do not place a heater next to your child.… In general, if the temperature in the room is above 22 ° C, it should be lowered. For a child with fever, it will be better if the room is 18–20 ° C: inhaling such air will not dry out the mucous membranes.
3. Do not soar your feet, do not make you breathe over a saucepan with something hot, do not put mustard plasters: These treatments have no proven efficacy, and the risk of burns and overheating is higher than any potential benefit. In addition, these are unpleasant activities, and the child is already bad. If you really want to help your baby, you better figure out how to entertain him when it is difficult for him.
4. Do not rub your child with vinegar and vodka … These methods are of little help, but they are very toxic to children.
5. Do not put your child to bed if he does not want to go there.… The patient will prescribe himself bed rest. If he has the strength to play, then that's good.

What to do if the temperature rises after vaccination

Some vaccines cause temporary reactions in the body - redness at the injection site, irritability, a slight increase in temperature. These are not complications, everything will go away by itself in 1-3 days.

You can eliminate unpleasant symptoms in the same way as in the case of any other temperature: antipyretic drugs and a suitable regimen.

Usually the temperature after vaccination is not higher than 37, 5 ° C. But if the fever rises, see your doctor.