• 31/05/2022
  • By wizewebsite
  • 634 Views

The baby is totally on fire! What now?<

In young children, a temperature higher than 38 °C is considered a fever (the risk level of the temperature is above 41 °C, when there is a risk of serious complications). The elevated temperature is in the range from 37 to 38 °C.

You can usually tell by just looking or touching children that they are suffering from a fever - they are tearful, tired, their faces are red, they are hot, their eyes are shiny. In the event that a small child refuses to drink or the baby begins to show some symptoms of an incipient illness (runny nose, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, noticeable decrease in activity, etc.), we usually find out whether he has an elevated temperature or a fever.

In a newborn, an elevated temperature may be the only sign of an incipient illness. If you develop a fever, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Illness in babies younger than 3 months requires special attention. Symptoms can be ambiguous or only slightly indicated. "Usually, even in such a small child, the mother immediately recognizes that he has a fever. The child is hot, tired, lethargic, sleepy, does not want to drink. A high fever can be associated with bulging of the fontanel," explains MUDr. Martin Gregora.

What can cause a fever?

If the temperature is elevated, remove one layer of clothing from the child and check the temperature again in 15 to 20 minutes. In very young infants, fever is sometimes caused by clothing that is too warm, not illness. If the temperature is not normal even after undressing, take action.

Fever in babies can also be a reaction to vaccination or it is most often a manifestation of an infection in the body, mostly affecting the respiratory system, this infection is mainly caused by viruses. Fever can also be accompanied by infections that affect the kidneys and urinary tract, the digestive system or the central nervous system.

In children, a high fever can cause the development of so-called febrile (febrile) convulsions. If it appears for the first time in a baby, it is always necessary to seek medical help. In the case of repeated convulsions, it is possible to manage the situation at home.

Measuring the temperature

You can measure the baby's temperature in several ways: in the mouth, ear, on the forehead or in the anus, with a so-called speedometer, a digital thermometer that can be used to measure the temperature on the forehead or in the ear, or a thermometer in a special pacifier.

The baby is on fire! Now what?

Extreme care must be taken not to harm the baby, especially when measuring in the rectum. For easy insertion, the tip of the thermometer must be lubricated with ointment, preferably the one you apply to your baby when changing diapers. Of course, we should not confuse a rectal thermometer with an oral one, it is ideal to have two thermometers in the medicine cabinet.

At high temperatures: it is recommended to examine the mobility of the head as an orientation. If the movement of the head is significantly restricted or the child reacts painfully, or vomits, is shy of light, you must urgently seek medical help. It may be inflammation of the meninges (meningitis).

For newborns, we do not subtract anything from the measured temperature, for children from 6 weeks of age, we subtract 0.5 °C when measuring in the rectum.

Read also:

What medicines and how to give them to newborns

An increase in body temperature supports and accelerates the reactions of the body's defense system. Fever is therefore not only a symptom of the disease, but also that the immune system has already started to work - it is fighting the disease. That's why we don't treat an elevated temperature of up to 38°C with medication. A temperature above 38 °C is already burdensome for the organism and it is necessary to start reducing it. Depending on the age and weight of the child, it is a good idea to give medicine to reduce the fever before going to the doctor.

For the smallest babies, it is most gentle to administer fever-reducing drugs in the form of suppositories through the rectum. However, you must always pay attention to the child's weight and adjust the amount of medicine accordingly. Older children can be given the medicine in the form of a syrup, tablet or suppository.

Medicines to reduce fever in children exist either on the basis of paracetamol (Paralen, Panadol) or ibuprofen (Ibalgin, Nurofen) and it is true that antipyretics are started with paracetamol, if it does not work, we can replace it with a medicine with ibuprofen.

Watch out! Ibuprofen must not be given to children under 3 months!

Gregor's pediatrician adds to the administration of the medication: "Read the package leaflet carefully before administration. A combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen is also possible. Paracetamol has a faster onset of action, in contrast, ibuprofen can reduce fever for a longer period of time, but the onset of action tends to be a bit longer. In any case, it is not worth measuring the child within an hour after the administration of any antipyretic, because at that time we can only expect the onset of the drug's effect. It is usually recommended to measure the child again in two hours, and if the fever persists, then the next dose can be administered no earlier than three hours after the administration of the medicine. When administering the medicine, we are guided by the current fever. When the child does not have a temperature, we usually do not give the medicine any further. Therefore, there is no need to automatically repeat the administration of the medicine after 6 hours, as many parents do."

When to use a wrap

You can also try to reduce the temperature in children with wraps or by showering (water temperature should be around 25-30 °C), or you can refresh the child with a wet sponge. You can also try just putting a wet washcloth on your wrists or ankles.

Read: Herbs and wraps will help children's fever and illnesses.

MDr. Martin Gregora points out: "We do not apply the wrap when the child has a cold and marbled skin. We perform it only when the child is heated, hot. Only then does the wrap have any hope of success, because it will remove heat from the surface of the body."

Don't forget!

During an illness accompanied by temperature or fever, the child needs to have a sufficient supply of fluids, which means an increased amount compared to normal, by about 15% when the temperature rises by 1°C. You can check the amount of fluids by the number of wet diapers. Breastfed babies try to breastfeed more often, try giving breastfed babies baby water.

"The problem is that a sick child does not always willingly drink the required amount of fluids. He often drinks more only after the fever subsides due to treatment. Forcing a child to drink does not have much effect. In case of loss of fluid due to a simultaneous disease of the digestive tract (vomiting + diarrhea), do not delay a visit to the doctor. There is a risk of dehydration," Gregora's pediatrician emphasizes.

How to manage the night

Put the baby in a well-ventilated room, in the winter remember that it is not overheated. Cover the baby only with a thinner duvet, which will not be unnecessary to warm it even more. Try to check your baby throughout the night, you can take turns with your partner.