UH- OH! My Child has a Fever

 UH- OH! My Child has a Fever

Many parents get anxious and scared when their child has a fever. Even me as a doctor gets scared when my children get a fever. So let us take a deep breath in and tackle this one step at a time.

A fever occurs when the body temperature is 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit,38 degrees Celsius or higher. The temperature can be measured by placing a thermometer at the underarm, forehead, mouth, at the ear or rectum.

Viral and bacterial infections are the most common causes of fever. Your child can also get a fever after receiving immunizations which usually goes away after one to two days. Dressing in warm clothing can also cause an elevated temperature. So, it is best to put on lighter clothing and to recheck the temperature after a couple of minutes.

Here are a couple of signs to look out for:

- Your child might say they suddenly feel hot or cold. They might even start to shiver.

-When you touch the child, their skin suddenly feels hotter than usual.

-Fatigue, not playing as usual

-Decreased appetite

-Heart racing

Other symptoms that can accompany with fever:

-headache

-sore throat, cough, runny nose, stuffy nose, ear pain, chest pain

-skin rash

-vomiting, diarrhea

-pain on urination

-seizure

So how do we get rid of this fever? 

The first thought most times is to get rid of it fast. However, do you know fever is a good thing. Fever is an immune response, and it starts to tell your body that it needs to fight an infection.

Acetaminophen can be used as a part of the treatment in children ages 3 months and older. This can help your child feel more comfortable. Please look at the instructions and give the dose for your child's age or weight. A wet rag can be placed on your child's forehead. Fever can also cause dehydration, so it is very important to give your child lots of fluids.

When to seek medical attention urgently:

-Any fever for children age 0-3months should go to doctor urgently as they might have a serious illness.

- Fever lasting more than 24 hours for children ages between 3months-2years or temperature above 102 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.8 degrees Celsius

-Fever lasting more than 72 hours for children age 2 years and older or temperature reading 104 degrees Fahrenheit and higher

-Irritability

-Lethargy and drowsiness

-Signs of dehydration- less urine passed, no tears when crying, no saliva in the mouth, sunken spot on infant's head

-Difficulty breathing

-Vomiting or diarrhea and trouble keeping liquids down

-Ear pain

-Unexplained rash

-Severe headache or stiff neck

-Seizure

Myths vs Facts

Myth    1. If your child feels warm to touch, they are definitely having a fever   

 Fact     1. Your child might be warm after activity or being in a warm environment as well. So, it is always best to use the thermometer

Myth   2. Fever is very bad.             

Fact    2. We actually want the fever to happen as it triggers an immune response to help your child                        fight the infection.

Myth   3. Fever is dangerous and can cause brain damage.         

Fact    3. Only if the temperature gets to above 108 degrees Fahrenheit that this can cause brain                             damage and this is a very extremely rare occurrence. 

Myth   4. All children are at risk for seizures with fever.                       

Fact     4.  Febrile seizures occur in 2-5% of children.

Myth   5. Seizures with fever can cause your child to be slow.              

Fact     5. I definitely agree that febrile seizures are scary to see but they usually last less than five                          minutes. They do not affect your child's development nor ability to learn.                                                                                

Myth    6. Use rubbing alcohol to treat the fever.            

Fact      6. This home remedy is not safe and can be harmful. Instead give your child a lukewarm                              shower or place a damp cloth on forehead or back.                                                      

Fever is actually a good sign, and it proves that your child's immune system is working. Most kids are running and playing when they have a fever. The fever usually lasts a few days and most times the cause is a viral infection. You only need to treat the fever in an older child if they are fussy and it makes them uncomfortable.

So now we can relax and tackle this fever!