How to Treat Your Child’s Fever
Guest writer Sophia Wynott is a nurse from Phoenix, Arizona. She has over thirty years of nursing experience and has written three books about life in the health care profession. She is a grandmother of three and enjoys little dogs. These are her words . . .
What is a fever? When the body temperature rises above normal (98.6) by a couple of degrees, this is a normal response to rid itself of germs. In most cases fevers in young children are related to self-limiting viral illnesses. They will get better without treatment.
When should you treat a fever? Usually medication is not necessary for fevers under 102.
Hint: When illness strikes it never happens at a convenient time. It usually happens in the middle of the night, after office hours, and on the weekend. Keep the medication the doctor recommends on hand, in a child proof/safe place with the doctor’s instructions taped to it.
How should you treat a fever? When the body temperature is above normal it is important to offer extra fluids to keep hydrated. Water is great. Clear liquids of any kind are wonderful. Clear liquids include any fluid that is translucent. Warm or cold works as long as the child will drink it. Popsicles work as an exceptional enticement.
Next, it is good to keep the child clothed as lightly as possible. Keep the room temperature between 70 ‘“ 74 degrees so they won’t get chilled. Diapers and short sleeved T-shirts work. Thin cotton pajamas work. If a cover is needed, use only one very light blanket or sheet. The skin is the way the body gets rid of the heat. When we bundle up (which is a natural tendency when feeling chilled because our body temperature is higher than normal) then we hold the heat in and it causes the fever to rise even more.
Another way to help a temperature to go down is to use cool cloths, or give a room temperature water bath. If the child starts chilling, stop the bath. Wrap them in a dry towel until they stop chilling. If the child is adverse to the bath, use cool cloths instead.
When should you call the doctor about a fever?
– If the fever is over 105 (using a rectal thermometer)
– If the baby has a seizure’”the body stiffens, eyes roll, limbs jerk
– If a nonverbal child, baby is crying inconsolably
– If the fever comes after exposure to an external source of heat
If you can’t reach the doctor (even if it’s in the middle of the night), or don’t receive a response back within 30 minutes, try once more. If you don’t receive an answer after the 2nd try, seek immediate emergency medical assistance.
Times to call 911:
– Not breathing, turning blue. Gasping for breath, suffocating
– No pulse, or heart beat is too fast to count, or bleeding profusely
– Not responding, unconscious, limp like a rag doll
Hopefully these tips will help parents know when to call the doctor and when to treat their child at home. If you have questions, please leave a comment or e-mail me at sophiawynott@gmail.com.
I’m curious when it would be good to ‘sweat it out’, if at all?
Does sleeping often really help fight the germs?
Dear Dawn:
“Sweating it out” is a term used for a breaking fever. You don’t want to create the sweat by increasing heat. You want to let the body cool itself without retaining the heat. Dress lightly and only use a light cover. Be vigilant in replacing the fluids the body is losing by increasing oral fluid intake.
Rest is an important part of healing. Especially when a child is ill with a fever it is important to let the child rest. In our busy lives we tend to keep going at the same pace: drop children at daycare, take them on that planned trip we must or want to take.
When not enough time is given for rest costly consequences occur, such as needing to use the ER because the child has become more ill.
Hope this answers your questions.