Fever is a natural reaction of the body to fight infection or injury. It stimulates the body to produce more white blood cells and antibodies to try to eradicate pathogens. Some research has found it's important to allow a mild fever to run its course. However, when it affects young children, as young as one or two, it can be a cause for concern. Although it does not require special treatment when it is low, sometimes it is appropriate to reduce it to make the baby feel better. High fever can be dangerous and, although rarely, can cause death. It is important to always take the baby to the pediatrician for a follow-up visit.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Reduce Fever in Children
Step 1. Check the baby's fever
Measure your body temperature using a digital thermometer. You may get more accurate results by taking a rectal one, but the one you put under the armpit is fine too. The important thing is never to interchange the two thermometers.
- You can also use a forehead thermometer to measure the temperature of the temporal artery or one to put in the ear.
- Infants and young children tend to have higher body temperatures and a greater range of variation than adults. This phenomenon is partly due to the fact that their body surface to volume ratio is greater and partly because their immune systems are not yet fully developed.
- The normal temperature of children is around 36 - 37.2 ° C.
- A temperature of 37.3 - 38.3 ° C indicates a moderate fever in children between the ages of 3 and 5.
- If, on the other hand, it reaches 38.4 - 39.7 ° C, it generally indicates the presence of a disease and must be kept under control. Most of the time, when the temperature reaches these levels, it means there is a viral or minor infection.
- When the temperature exceeds 39.8 ° C it must be treated or lowered (read next steps). If the fever goes away following the methods described below, you can often wait until the next day before seeing your pediatrician. If it does not go down, you must immediately take the baby to the emergency room.
- Keep in mind that this tutorial looks at cases where only the fever symptom occurs. If the baby has other serious ailments or a chronic illness that causes concern, seek immediate medical attention.
Step 2. Give the baby a bath
Since water allows heat to be expelled from the body faster than air, bathing is an effective method of reducing fever and works faster than medications. You can decide to put your child in the water while you wait for the acetaminophen (Tachipirina) or other antipyretics / pain relievers to take effect.
- Use lukewarm water. Never put your child in cold water in an attempt to lower his fever. For faster results, the ideal is a water temperature just below body temperature.
- Do not put denatured alcohol in the tub water; it is an old popular custom, but it is no longer recommended by doctors.
- You can also place a cold, wet towel on the baby's forehead to lower the temperature.
Step 3. Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids
Fever can lead to dehydration, a serious medical disorder; therefore it is essential to make him drink plenty of fluids to keep him adequately hydrated.
- Simple water is the best choice, but if the child is particularly demanding, you can offer him other solutions. You can give him fruit juices diluted with water or water flavored with fresh fruit.
- Alternatively, you can make him drink iced decaffeinated herbal teas (such as chamomile or mint tea) or electrolyte solutions, such as Pedialyte, suitable for children of all ages.
- Be very careful and check for signs of dehydration. The higher the fever, the greater the risk of not being properly hydrated.
- Some symptoms of dehydration are: concentrated urine, which has a dark yellow color and may also smell bad, reduced urination (six hours or more between pees), dry lips and mouth, no tears when crying and sunken eyes.
- If your child exhibits these signs, take him to the pediatrician immediately.
Step 4. Optimize your body and room temperatures
Dress the baby in a light layer of clothing to better control the temperature. Each additional layer of clothing retains heat close to the body, while loose, lightweight clothing allows air to circulate more freely and disperse heat.
- Keep a light blanket handy in case your baby feels cold or complains about the cold.
- You can turn on a fan to move the air faster and move the heat away from your baby's skin better. If you use this method, be sure to check your baby often to prevent him from becoming too cold. Do not point the fan directly in front of him.
Step 5. Give him medication to reduce fever
You should only give him antipyretics if it is important to give him greater comfort or if it is necessary to lower his fever to avoid serious complications.
- When the fever is not very high it is best to let it run its course, unless there are other complications; however, if it is moderate, high or associated with other symptoms, you need to take medication.
- Paracetamol (Tachipirina) is a drug suitable for infants and young children. Consult your pediatrician for the exact dosage.
- If the baby is 6 months or older, you can give him ibuprofen (Brufen, Moment). Again, ask your doctor about the right dosage.
- It is no longer recommended to give aspirin to children and teens under 18, as it is associated with Reye's syndrome.
- Antipyretics are available in liquid form or as suppositories. Give your child the right dosage, which is determined by age and weight.
- Never exceed the recommended dose and frequency of administration. Write down all the times you give the drug to your baby and their dosage.
- If your baby is taking prescription medications, you should speak to your pediatrician before deciding to give them over-the-counter medications.
- If your baby vomits and can't hold back the medications, you can give him paracetamol suppositories. Read the leaflet to know the appropriate dosage.
- If the fever does not temporarily reduce with antipyretics, you need to seek medical attention.
Step 6. Ask the pediatrician if the baby should take antibiotics
This class of drugs is prescribed in case of bacterial infection, but is not suitable and cannot be given if the infection is viral in nature.
- The abuse of antibiotics even in unnecessary situations has resulted in the development of drug-resistant bacterial strains. For this reason, doctors' current recommendation is to take antibiotics only when it is truly essential.
- If your child has to take them, make sure he completes his entire course of therapy.
Part 2 of 2: Knowing about Fever in Babies
Step 1. Know the causes of fever
Up to a certain level, fever helps the body. As mentioned, it is the body's natural response to a variety of conditions, including:
- Bacterial infections, such as streptococcal, which cause pharyngitis or ear infections; these cause fever and are often treated with antibiotic therapies.
- Viral infections, such as colds, flu and other typical diseases of children (chicken pox and measles). These do not need to be treated with antibiotics and often the only way to treat them is to wait and just relieve the symptoms. Viral infections are often the most common cause of fever in children, which most often can last 3-4 days.
- Teething is another factor that causes mild fever.
- Vaccines are created to induce a mild immune response and therefore can often induce a fever.
- If your child develops a fever because he is overheated from too hot an environment and shows signs of heatstroke or sun, he should be taken to the emergency room immediately.
- Although rarely, fever can be caused by an inflammatory problem, such as arthritis or other serious medical conditions, including cancer.
Step 2. Know when to call your pediatrician
You need to find the right balance when trying to monitor your child's fever: you shouldn't overdo it, but neither should you underestimate the situation. Usually, the smaller the child, the more attention is needed. The general guidelines based on the age of the child are described below:
- From 0 to 3 months: a fever of 38 ° C is the starting point for contacting the pediatrician immediately, even if the baby has no other symptoms; any newborns under two months should be examined immediately;
- From 3 months to 2 years: if the fever does not exceed 38.9 ° C it can normally be treated at home (read the previous section);
- 3 months to 2 years: Fever over 38.9 ° C requires medical attention. If so, call your pediatrician for further guidance. This is even more important if the baby has other symptoms as well, if the fever does not subside with medication, or if it lasts more than a day or two.
Step 3. Recognize the symptoms of other serious medical conditions
Parents often can sense some serious medical ailment in their child. It is not uncommon for children to develop repetitive patterns in response to disease, and parents can easily notice any abnormalities in their behavior.
- When a fever is accompanied by lethargy and / or listlessness, it often indicates a more serious problem.
- If your child experiences severe symptoms, such as disorientation, bluish skin around the mouth or fingertips, seizures, severe headache, neck stiffness, difficulty walking or breathing, call 911 immediately.
Advice
If you are unsure about the severity of your child's fever or whether it should be treated, contact your pediatrician. It is always better to be safe than sorry
Warnings
- Always ask your pediatrician or pharmacist for advice before administering two or more drugs at the same time; different medicines may contain the same active ingredient and you may inadvertently exceed the recommended dosage.
- Do not try to reduce the child's fever with denatured alcohol, as it cools the child too quickly and subsequently raises the temperature even more.
- If the fever is caused by exposure to too hot an environment, call an ambulance right away.
- Never give aspirin to children under the age of 18; this drug has been associated with Reye's syndrome, a serious condition that causes liver damage.
