How to Not Worry When your Child has Fever

Fever comes from the Latin word febris, meaning fever. A fever is considered as a way for the body's immune system to attempt to neutralize a perceived danger within the body, be it bacterial or viral. Fever is not a disease, but the body's response to the disease.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Thermometer
• Tylenol or Motrin

1. Don’t panic when your child is down with fever because it’s a sign that the body is fighting off the infection. Stay calm and do not make a rush to a clinic or the emergency.

2. Monitor the child’s temperature. Proceed to call on the doctor only if the child less than 6 months is having a temperature over 101 degrees Fahrenheit. For a child older than 6 months call on the doctor if temperature exceeds 103 degrees.

3. Be sensitive. When your child begins to battle the infection and temperature of the body rises, the child would feel cold. At this time lower or shut off the Air conditioning and cover with adequate blankets. When the temperature of the child’s body is again back to normal, the child would sweat and feel hot. At this time make sure to take off the blankets.

4. Do not put off the fan or air conditioner unless it makes the child uncomfortable.

5. Sponge the body to control fever: This should be done only if the fever is above 102 degrees F. In summer stored water is ideal. In winter the stored water is cold and should be heated slightly. The desired temperature should be same as stored summer water (i.e. neither cold or warm)

6. Medicines to reduce fever (antipyretics)
   1. To reduce fever, Tylenol or Motrin could be used. The parents should learn the use of these antipyretics in relation to weight and age.
   2. These are temporary medicine to bring down the temperature, and will not remove the cause of fever. Hence the continued use of antipyretics without attending to the cause of the fever could be dangerous.
   3. Fever may not get controlled immediately after taking disease specific medicines from your doctor/ pediatrician. Hence till such time use of antipyretics would be necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Pay attention to the child's behaviour and discomfort.
• The parents can give the right dosage of Tylenol or Motrin.
• Avoid giving Aspirin to the child.

[fyrehawg]

on 12/15/2009 Very nice tips. This is so hard not to panic when your kids are sick. 5*

[domestic-diva78]

on 12/14/2009 As a mother of three, I loved this article 5*

[rpalulis]

on 12/14/2009 Great article, It really does stink to see them suffer from a fever, and wish I could just trade places. Thanks for sharing these useful tips.

[kariharaldson]

on 11/18/2009 Great article, really hits home. 5*'s

[ajmaddox]

on 11/12/2009 Great article. It's hard not to panic, but remember it's defense from the body!