How to Properly Care For a Child With a Fever?

It is very likely that throughout your childhood, your child will suffer about one hundred infectious episodes, most of which will happen before he is four years old. Many of these infectious processes will be accompanied by fever, so you should be informed about how to handle these situations.

For these cases, I wish to warn of the necessity that prior to any other consideration, a diagnosis must be made by a competent doctor. Fever is a symptom and may accompany potentially serious illness, especially in children less than six months of age.

Fever causes increased loss of water from the body through the skin, which means an increased risk of dehydration. It is advisable, therefore, to administer supplemental amounts of liquids, in the form of water or juices. Drinks containing caffeine or similar substances increase the amount of urine eliminated and can theoretically increase the risk of dehydration.

It is not advisable to force a child with a fever to eat, if he or she does not want to, but the extra energy expenditure caused by the maintenance of a higher temperature than usual can partially compensate by administering sugars, either in the form of sugary drinks or even sweets.

The temperature can be taken in the rectum, the mouth or the armpit, the first site being preferred for the younger children. Check the temperature of your child with Xiaomi thermometer often in order to know whether the temperature  turns normal or not. Remember that in general, in the one year old, you should consider that there is an elevated temperature from 37.8  ° C in the rectum and that the temperature varies with age. 

You are not required to maintain a normal temperature at all costs. Fever is a mechanism of defensive reaction of the organism and it is indicated to treat it when it causes discomfort, although it is relatively low, or when it reaches a certain level (for example, 39ºC in the rectum). If your child seems to be feeling well and you do not detect a tendency to raise the temperature, you can refrain from taking specific measures against the fever while maintaining moderate figures.

Do not cover the child too much with the noble but mistaken intention of not cooling. Precisely what should be allowed is the opposite, that is to say, that excess heat produced is eliminated. With temperatures over 39 ° C rectally, your child will probably only need a short-sleeved T-shirt and a panties for all clothing. When an episode of shivering begins, it is advisable to cover it minimally (a sheet or at most a thin blanket) until the inevitable thermal rush occurs, at which time the excess of clothing is again unnecessary.

Do not force your child to stay in bed if the only reason he has to take this measure is fever. You will probably find yourself more comfortably if you can perform some activity in your room or in another dependence of the home.

Antibiotics do not lower the temperature. If your doctor has not prescribed them, you must assume that you have good reason not to. In fact, the vast majority of childhood infectious diseases are caused by viruses, which are insensitive to the action of antibiotics, and usually heal on their own.