It is very common for a child to experience a fever occasionally, but that does not mean that it is any less scary and stressful for parents when it happens. Fevers indicate that your little one’s body is trying to fight infection. To kill the bacteria, your child’s body raises its temperature. It’s usually harmless and resolves on its own within three days. Most healthcare practitioners consider a fever to be a temperature of 38°C or greater when measured rectally. You can make them more comfortable and safer by following a few basic principles. If a fever lasts less than five days, you typically do not need to worry.
Steps to manage a fever
You can care for your child or baby at home in most cases. Over the course of three or four days, the temperature should drop.
Here are some things you can do to help your child feel better when he or she has a fever:
- Hydrate your child frequently. Keep giving them plenty of liquid and watch for signs of dehydration
- Encourage eating, but do not force it
- Check up on your child regularly
- Give them paracetamol
- Dress your child in light clothing
- Bath your child in lukewarm water
- Put a cool cloth on your child’s head
- Make your child’s room a comfortable temperature that is neither too hot nor too cold
- Let your child get a lot of rest
There are also some things that you definitely should not do, and these include:
- Never give your child a cold bath
- Do not cover them in too much fabric
- Do not give aspirin under any circumstances – it may cause a potentially fatal disease known as Reye’s Syndrome
- Do not combine multiple medicines
- Do not use alcohol baths or rubbing alcohol on the skin
When to see a doctor
In some instances, a fever can indicate something more serious, and then a trip to your paediatrician is a good move. Of course, if you are concerned, it is totally acceptable to visit your child’s doctor whenever you see fit. Here are some reasons to visit your paediatrician:
- When an infant below the age of 3 months has a fever
- If there is no reduction or fluctuation in temperature despite giving paracetamol
- If your child has significant mood changes
- If there are not enough liquids being consumed and your child is displaying signs of dehydration:
- Sunken eyes
- Very little moisture in nappies
- Dry skin
- Dry tongue
- Dry lips
- No tears when crying
- If the fever lasts for more than five days
- If your child’s temperature is higher than 40°C
- If your child has a fever within 48 hours of receiving an immunisation
- If your child is refusing to feed
- If your child is vomiting frequently
- If your child shows other signs of sicknesses such as a rash