Author:
Lewis Jackson
Date Of Creation:
8 May 2021
Update Date:
1 July 2024
Content
A fever can have many reasons such as a virus, infection, or even the common cold and makes your child feel uncomfortable. Fever is the body's natural response to infection or disease. A recognizable feature of a fever is a temporary rise in body temperature to a worrying or discomforting level if the temperature is 39.4 ° C or above. In babies, sometimes a fever can be a sign of a more serious problem. Therefore, you need to observe children carefully. As a parent or caregiver, you can take the necessary steps below to help your child get tired.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Managing the fever at home
Drink plenty of fluids. Keep your baby hydrated by giving plenty of fluids. Fever causes excessive sweating and, therefore, dehydration and can lead to dehydration. Talk to your doctor about adding an electrolyte solution, such as to formula.
- Avoid giving children fruit or apple juice, and dilute it with 50% water instead.
- Popsicles or gelatin can be given to children.
- Avoid caffeinated beverages as they stimulate urinary excretion and dehydrate.
- Feed your child as usual, but remember that they may not want to eat a lot when they have a fever. Try offering bland foods like bread, crackers, pasta and oats.
- Newborns who are breastfed should only breastfeed. Keep your baby hydrated by feeding a lot.
- Never force a child to eat if they don't want to.
Let your child rest in a comfortable room. Keep your child in a room at a comfortable temperature between 21.1 ° C and 23.3 ° C).- Avoid running heaters continuously so your child doesn't overheat.
- Same with air conditioner. Turn off the air conditioner to help the baby cool down and increase the child's body temperature.
Dress your child in thin clothing. Thick clothing can even increase body temperature. Wearing too many clothes will retain the heat, making the child even more uncomfortable.- Dress your child in loose clothing and a thin blanket if the room is too cold or if you notice your baby shivering. Adjust the room temperature if needed to keep your baby comfortable.
Give your child a warm bath. Warm water, not too hot, and not too cold, can reduce fever.- If you are going to give your child a warm bath, give him a pill to make sure his temperature doesn't rise after bathing.
- Avoid taking a bath with cold water, ice or using oil. They will freeze the child and make the condition worse.
Give your child medicine. Use caution when giving medications such as Tylenol, Advil, or Motrin. Read the instructions carefully to make sure you are giving your child the correct dose and age. Consult a healthcare professional before giving fever-reducing medicine to a child.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are often recommended by a doctor or nurse to reduce a child's fever.
- If your baby is younger than 3 months old, always call your doctor before taking any medicine.
- Do not exceed the recommended dose risk of liver or kidney damage, or worse, possibly fatal.
- Acetaminophen can be given every 4 to 6 hours and Ibuprofen every 6 to 8 hours if the child is over 6 months old.
- Keep track of the medicine, dosage and time you give your baby to avoid overdose.
- For temperatures below 38.9 ° C, try not to use it unless advised by your doctor or nurse.
- Never give aspirin to a child because it can cause a rare but life-threatening disorder, Reye Syndrome.
Part 2 of 3: Finding Medical Help
Check to see if the temperature has increased. Even a low fever is a sign that the child has a serious infection. So, depending on the age of the child, you need to call the pediatrician if the child's temperature increases significantly.
- For babies up to 3 months old with a temperature of 38 ° C or higher, you need to call your pediatrician for advice on how to proceed.
- If your baby is over 3 months old has a temperature of 38.9 ° C and has a fever for more than a day, call your pediatrician.
- Even if you are in doubt, you should call your doctor to make sure it's safe.
Know when to contact your pediatrician. If the child has a fever but is still playing and eating normally, there is no problem to worry about at that time. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends calling a doctor if the baby is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38 ° C or higher. If your child is over 3 months old, has a fever for more than 24 hours and has other symptoms such as cough, earache, poor appetite, vomiting or diarrhea, call your doctor or take your baby to the emergency clinic.
- If your baby becomes slow or uncomfortable with fever, gets irritable, has a stiff neck or doesn't shed tears when crying, contact a doctor immediately.
- Talk to your doctor if your child has special medical problems such as heart disease, immunity or sickle cell anemia when your child has a fever.
- Call your doctor if your baby has a fever for more than 48 hours, has little urination, excessive diarrhea or vomiting, these symptoms are signs that your baby needs to be checked.
- Call your doctor if your child has a fever above 40.5 ° C or has a fever for more than 3 days.
- Call 115 if the child has a fever and is not alert, unable to walk, has difficulty breathing, or purple lips, tongue or nails.
Get everything ready to take your child to the doctor. If your child needs medical attention, bring the necessary papers with you to make sure your baby gets proper and prompt care. You also need to be willing to find out when you are in the clinic.
- Record all the necessary information about your child's fever: when your child has a fever, how long you have checked his temperature, and notify the doctor of any other symptoms.
- List the medicines, vitamins and supplements your child is taking and what they are allergic to.
- Prepare questions to ask the doctor about what causes a fever; What tests do your child need; how is the best treatment; and will the child have to take medicine?
- Be ready to answer your doctor's questions such as: when did symptoms start; whether or not the child has been given medicine and if so when; What did you do to reduce your child's fever?
- Be prepared if your baby may need to be hospitalized for follow-up or extra tests in case the baby is very ill or younger than 3 months old.
Part 3 of 3: Preventing Fever in the Future
Hand washing. In most cases, keep your hands clean as your hands are the part of the body that comes in direct contact with the germs and passes on to other parts.
- Wash your hands, especially before eating, after using the toilet, playing or feeding animals, using public transport, or after visiting a sick person.
- Be sure to thoroughly wash your hands including the pubic and palms, between your fingers, and between your fingernails for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap.
- Carry hand sanitizer with or without soap and water.
Do not touch the "T" area on your face. The T-zone includes the forehead, nose, and chin, creating a "T" shape on the face. The nose, mouth and eyes in the T-zone are the main points through which viruses and bacteria enter the body, causing inflammation.
- Block out all body fluids that originate from the “T” zone: cover your coughs, close your nose and mouth when sneezing, and wipe your runny nose (then wash your hands!).
Avoid sharing utensils. Try not to share cups, water bottles or utensils with your baby because it is an easy way to pass germs from one person to another, especially from parent to child, when the child has not yet developed a complete immune system.
- Avoid using your mouth to clean your baby's pacifier and then put it in his or her mouth. The germs in adults are very strong when they get into a child's mouth and can easily cause illness in a child. The same goes for toothbrushes.
Leave your child at home when sick. Keep children at home, prevent children from going to school when they are sick or have a fever to prevent spreading illness to other children. If you know a friend or family member is sick, try to keep your child away until they get well.
Ensure adequate vaccinations for children. Staying informed about your child's shots, including the annual flu shot, will help reduce your child's risk of getting sick. advertisement
