Nooo! They have a fever! 2015/03/06

Mom, has it ever happen that you see your baby a little strange, with watery eyes and a little sad?... did you put your lips on their forehead and, oh no! They have a fever!!

Relax mom, fever is not a sickness, but a symptom that manifests when body temperature, normally between 36 ºC and 37 ºC, increases 0.5 ºC over its normal values.

Fever is the first defense weapon of our body against virus and bacteria.

When fever lasts more than 24 to 48 hours, it is recommended to identify the causes to tackle them the appropriate way contacting your pediatrician.

Since each infection is potentially capable of provoking a fever, it is necessary to evaluate more additional symptoms to determine the problem, for example cough, cold, vomit, diarrhea, spots on the body, etc.

Fever is measured with a thermometer. In the market there are different types: liquid, digital, ear thermometer, infrared, etc. nevertheless it is important to remember some small indications.

For children under 1 year the best method for taking their temperature is rectally, putting them on their backs and keeping their legs elevated or well upside down. The lubricated tip of the thermometer comes delicately inserted in the rectum. It is very important to keep the child still and clam during the needed time to measure. Rectal temperature is 0.5º C higher than the external temperature of the skin, for which we have to subtract 0.5º C from the result we get.

To measure fever on the mouth, it is necessary not to take any hot foods or cold at least half an hour before measuring, this way the result will not be altered.

For the classic axillary measuring, the thermometer must be positioned in contact with the dry skin.

Temperature is not measured just when the child has woken up and is still covered, immediately after running or sweating, since the result can be altered.

Removing the need of going to the pediatrician, who will evaluate the general health chart, here are some other tips: let the child rest, try for them to have beverages in small quantities but with more frequency, better if they are sweet like tea or fruit juice; don’t force them to eat, nevertheless opt for a light and easy to digest diet.

Don’t cover them up to much, even if they complain about cold, don’t warm their room too much (18º C – 20º C is the ideal temperature) if fever increases to 38 ºC or higher, use warm sponges on their forehead, wrists, ankles and an antipyretic. In worse situations, for example, if the child can’t stay awake, has blue lips or nails, convulsions or difficulty breathing, it is better to go to the emergency room immediately.

These are just notes with an informative goal and never replace or substitute the diagnosis of a pediatrician

Source: http: //www.pediatriapratica.it

Image: http://www.infermieriperlasalute.it