Caring for your child's fever
Whether from an infection, vaccine or a common cold, fever in children can leave them tired, achy and irritable.
Fever is just one of the body’s ways of reacting to infections (aside from more serious conditions like meningitis of which you should always be mindful of). Even so, it is not a pleasant experience for your child or baby and you want to do everything you can to make things as comfortable as possible.
When is a high temperature classed as a fever?
First establish that your baby or child actually has a fever. Feeling the forehead may tell you they are hot, but you need to know the exact body temperature. Anything over 37.8°C is classed as a fever.
Symptoms of a fever often include lethargy, shivering, restlessness and cold hands and feet with a hot tummy and back. Loss of appetite can also indicate a fever in children. However, if your child appears pale or ashen, cannot be roused, has a prolonged seizure (over five minutes), vomits bile or has a bulging fontanelle, you need to seek urgent medical attention.
If your baby is over six months old, you need to consult the paediatrician / GP when the temperature is 40°C. If your baby is three to six months old, you should call the doctor when it is 39°C. If your baby is less than three months, call when 38°C. Fever that persists for more than five days, fever that persists despite medication, baby seizures, rapid deterioration and dehydration are other causes for calling the doctor.
Helping your feverish child
It might be a frequent blight on their early years, but children and fever are not a good combination. Fever can quite simply make them feel miserable. A feverish baby or child is hard for a parent to bear, especially when they are crying in distress, but luckily there is a lot you can do to help them feel better.
To bring down a fever, try an infant analgesic, such as Nurofen for Children*. It starts to work in just 15 minutes to relieve a fever and lasts for up to 8 hours – that’s up to two hours longer than paracetamol.
Keeping it cool
Besides medical treatments, you can help your child cool down by keeping the room temperature down to around 20°C. Light bedding and clothing helps prevent them from feeling smothered, but make sure they do not get chilled.
With a fever comes perspiration, so it is important to keep your child hydrated. Keep offering water and other drinks. Solid food might not seem very appetising to a toddler or child with little appetite, but liquid meals will provide much-needed energy as their body works to get well.
* Nurofen for Children. Contains ibuprofen. Always read the label.
How to deal with fever
- Monitor temperature to check that your child really has a fever
- Reduce fever with an age-appropriate analgesic
- Keep clothing and bedding light
- Encourage your child to keep drinking and eating, wherever possible
- If in doubt, see their GP / paediatrician
- If in doubt, see their GP / paediatrician
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