Kids and Fever

How can I tell whether my child has a fever?

Kiss or touch your child's forehead. If you think he feels hotter than normal, you're probably right.

A fever is usually a sign that the body is waging a war against infection. Taking your child's temperature can confirm your suspicions and help you and your child's doctor figure out the best way to get your child back on the road to health.

Most doctors — and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) — agree that a normal body temperature for a healthy child is between 97 and 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (36 to 38 degrees Celsius). If your child's temperature is above this range, he has a fever.

When should I call the doctor?

You're the best judge of whether your child is really ill, so call if you're worried, no matter what his temperature is.

A temperature reading isn't the only indication of whether a fever is serious. Your child's behavior is a factor, too — a high fever that doesn't stop him from playing and eating normally may not be cause for alarm. Keep in mind that your child will be hotter if he's been running around than if he's waking up from a nap.

Something else to remember: Everyone's temperature rises in the late afternoon and early evening and falls between midnight and early morning. The natural cycle of our internal thermostat explains why doctors get most of their phone calls about fever in the late afternoon and early evening.

That said, a fever of 103 degrees F (39.4 degrees C) or higher is generally considered cause to check with a doctor. (If your child looks or acts ill, you'll want to call sooner.)

The doctor will probably ask you about other symptoms when you call. The most important thing is how your child looks and acts — if he has lost his appetite, has little energy, is noticeably pale or flushed, or is extremely irritable, or if you notice other changes in his behavior and appearance.

Be sure to mention other symptoms, too, such as a cough, ear pain, vomiting, or diarrhea — these can help the doctor make a diagnosis. She will then tell you how to care for your child and whether you need to come into the office.

Be on the lookout for any of the following symptoms, which could indicate a more serious problem when coupled with a fever:

Your child has small, purple-red spots on his skin that don't turn white or paler when you press on them, or he has large purple blotches. Both of these can signal a very serious bacterial infection.

Your child is having difficulty breathing. He may be working harder to breathe or breathing faster than usual. This could indicate pneumonia.

What will the doctor do?

If your child is reasonably alert and taking fluids and has no other symptoms that suggest a serious illness, the doctor may advise giving him children's acetaminophenor ibuprofen to bring down the fever.

If you're able to keep your child's temperature below 102 degrees F (38.9 degrees C) with the recommended dosage of acetaminophen or ibuprofen, you might want to wait 24 hours before bringing him to the doctor. Because fever is often the first symptom of an illness, a doctor may not find anything significant if your child is examined too early.

The doctor may tell you to switch to a different medication (for example, ibuprofen if you've been giving acetaminophen) if the fever isn't lower within an hour, or you may need to bring your child in to be examined.

If your child has symptoms that suggest a serious illness or infection, you'll be told to bring him in to be evaluated at the doctor's office (if you call during working hours) or an emergency room.

If fever is a defense against infection, is it really a good idea to try to bring it down?

Since fever is part of the body's defense against bacteria and viruses, some researchers suggest that the body may fight infections more effectively when its temperature is elevated. (Bacteria and viruses prefer an environment that's around 98.6 degrees F, or 37 degrees C.) A fever also tells the body to make more white blood cells and antibodies to fight the infection.

On the other hand, if your child's temperature is too high, he'll be too uncomfortable to eat, drink, or sleep, and that will make it harder for him to get better.

If your child's fever isn't affecting his behavior, you don't need to give him anything to lower it. Offer him plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration, and don't overdress him or bundle him up when he's sleeping.

If his body temperature is higher than normal because of extra clothes, a scorching day, or a lot of active play, help him cool down by taking off a few of his layers and encouraging him to rest or play quietly in a cool spot.

Which fever-reducing medicines are safe for my child?

You can use children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen to bring down your child's temperature.

Be very careful when administering medicine to your child. His weight will determine the right dose. Always use the measuring device that comes with the medicine or anoral syringe to give your child exactly the right amount.

Don't give any fever-reducing medicine more often than is recommended. The directions will probably say that you can give acetaminophen every four hours and ibuprofen every six hours.

Never give your child aspirin. Aspirin can make a child more susceptible to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disorder.

A final word of caution: If the doctor has recommended a cold and cough medicine, keep in mind that many of these also contain ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Check the label carefully and don't give your child a separate fever reducer if he's taking one of these combination products.

Are there other ways to bring my child's fever down?

You can try to lower your child's fever by sponging him down with lukewarm (not cold) water or giving him a lukewarm bath.

Never try to reduce a fever by sponging down your child with rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol can be absorbed into your child's bloodstream through the skin. It can also cool him too quickly, which can actually raise his temperature.

What should I do if my child has a seizure from his high fever?

Fevers can sometimes cause febrile seizures in young children, usually up to the age of 5. A child having this type of seizure may roll his eyes, drool, or vomit. His limbs may become stiff and his body may twitch or jerk. In most cases, the seizures are harmless, but that doesn't make it any less terrifying if your child's having one.

Why does my child's fever keep coming back?

Fever-reducing medicines bring down body temperature temporarily. They don't affect the bug that's producing the infection, so your child may run a fever until his body is clear of the infection. This can take at least two or three days.

Some infections, such as influenza (the flu), can last from five to seven days. If your child has been treated with antibiotics to fight a bacterial infection, it may take 48 hours for his temperature to fall.

My child has a fever and no other symptoms. What's wrong?

When a child has a fever that isn't accompanied by a runny nose, a cough, vomiting, or diarrhea, figuring out what's wrong can be difficult.

There are many viral infections that can cause a fever without any other symptoms. Some, such as roseola, cause three days of very high fever followed by a light pink rash on the trunk. More serious infections, such as meningitis, urinary tract infections, or bacteremia (bacteria in the bloodstream), may also trigger a high fever without any other specific symptoms.

If your child has a high fever and no other symptoms, call the doctor.

Source:-Baby center

Personal Note:- Wet baby wipes have always worked,reducing the high temperature of my daughter.Yes,I still buy one or two small packages for blowing nose when she has cold and it's an instant fever reducer.You could use wet cloth or soft sponge.Keep one on the forehead and give a nice wipe on your kids tummy and the whole back using another.You could wet the wipes with luke warm water and repeat the process three to four times.