Fever is a rise in body temperature than normal. Normal body temperature ranges between 36-38 degrees Celsius. Your child has a fever if the temperature measurement temperature:
- Thermometer in the rectum or anus exceed 38 degrees Celsius
- Thermometer in the mouth exceeds 37.5 degrees Celsius
- Thermometer in the armpit exceed 37 degrees Celsius
What Causes Fever?
Fever occurs when the "thermostat" in the body increases the body temperature above normal limits. Thermostat is located in one part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus would regulate body temperature that is suitable and will send signals to the body to maintain normal temperature.
Sometimes the hypothalamus will "regulate" the body temperature becomes higher as a response to infection, disease and other causes. The researchers suggested that the increase in body temperature is the way the body to fight germs that cause infection and make the body as a place that is uncomfortable for the germs.
Fever is a symptom and not a disease. Fever can be caused by infection, conditions that are too hot, immunization, and other causes.
How to measure temperature in children?
Measure temperature by using the hand on the forehead, cheeks, or the child's abdomen is not a good way to measure fever. You should measure the temperature increase in children using a thermometer to make sure that your child is exposed to fever. Types of thermometers include mercury thermometers, digital thermometers, and thermometers timpanik placed on the ear. How to measure mercury thermometers include:
For infants and toddlers:
The best measurement using a thermometer placed in the armpit. Place the tip of the thermometer in the middle of the armpit, hold with one hand and use your other hand to hold the baby's arm so as not to open. Hold a thermometer for three to four minutes
Five years of age or older:
The best measurement is to use a thermometer placed in the mouth. When a new child to eat something cold or hot, wait 10 minutes to measure temperature. Lay your child, place the thermometer under the tongue, tell your child to close his mouth but do not bite. Hold thermometer for two to three minutes.
Does the child should be bathed when fever?
Bathe with wet sponge or cloth is one good way to lower a fever if the child is vomiting or can not take fever-lowering drugs. Sometimes, a bath and fever-lowering medication to reduce fever and make the child feel more comfortable. Use warm water and wipe your child with special sponge or washcloth.
How do I deal with fever in children?
Without the drug:
- If your child is still eating, drinking, and playing as usual, he may not need a febrifuge.
- Put the clothes that are thin or just put the clothes in so that children will release heat through their skin.
- Compress the child by using warm water on the forehead, neck, armpits, chest. Do not allow to dry compresses to the body of a child, adopted compress when half dry, dip again in warm water, wring it out, put in the body of a child.
- Do not use alcohol as a pack of children. Alcohol can cause heat loss is too fast thus causing intoxication or alcohol poisoning.
- Cover the child with a thin blanket if the child is cold or shivering.
- Rest your child because the activity can increase the fever.
- Give your child extra fluids be water, juice, or milk. If the child does not want to drink, give fluids child whatever he wants.
By drug:
- Drugs can help kids to feel better but do not stop the fever.
- Give paracetamol every four hours once or six times a day.
- Read the label and follow the instructions appropriate to the age and weight of children.
- Discuss with your doctor before giving ibuprofen.
- Do not give aspirin to children under 16 years because it can cause serious illness such as Reye's Syndrome which can cause brain damage and liver.
When should a doctor?
- Call your doctor if your baby's fever with rectal temperature higher than 38 degrees Celsius, and under the age of three months
- Call your doctor if the temperature of the child at the age of three months to three years to reach the temperature 39 degrees Celsius or more.
- Call your doctor if the child's fever and loss of appetite, headache, vomiting or abdominal pain, crying more than usual, experiencing pain in the throat, difficulty breathing, pain in the ear, and pain when urinating
Fever usually does not last more than three days. Contact your doctor if the child's temperature does not go down after three days and have done all the above measures.
1 Comments:
Really nice article. It an happened with new born baby. Some cares needed in those situation. This post is really crucial for those parents whom child has this kind of fever.
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