Six ways to manage fever in your child

Every parent’s worst fears are their child falling sick or being in harm’s way.

Fever is one of the most common reasons why children are rushed to hospital in the middle of the night as it can result in very fatal effects.

Before we dive deep into the thick of it, we need to understand what a fever is. Fever is when the body temperature rises above the normal level of 37 degrees Celsius.

If you have a kid, it is important that you have a thermometer to help you take note of your child’s temperature especially if you feel like they are a little bit warmer than usual. At times your baby might have a slight fever and you might not be able to establish it because they will still be playing and looking okay.

That said, here are some tips to help you manage a fever in your child.

i.Take their temperature

If your child feels warmer than usual it is important to take their temperature. Fever might not always be cause for alarm unless the temperature is above 38 degrees Celsius. In such an event, or if the fever doesn’t subside even after administering medication, the next best thing to do is to rush your child to hospital.

ii.Always have fever medicine

When you go for your next doctor’s appointment consult on the medication you can give your child in an event of fever. Make sure to carry the medication with you when you go out for long durations or when travelling. Remember, only buy medication after consulting your child’s pediatrician.

iii.Monitoring

The best way to establish if the fever is persistent or worsening is by monitoring your child. Take their temperature an hour after administering medication. This will let you know if they are getting better or whether you need to rush them to hospital.

iv.Check their clothes

Kids are just like us, they also feel hot if it’s a hot day. Don’t overdress your baby when it’s hot or let them stay in very warm clothes when you can clearly see them sweating or expressing discomfort in the clothes they have.

If they are having a fever this is not the time to add on more clothes rather it’s time to reduce the clothing. Adding more clothes or letting them stay too heavily dressed can cause the fever to worsen.

v.Hydrate

Dehydration can cause fever in kids so make sure your little one is well hydrated by giving them milk, water or other fluids. Also, this is a great way of lowering their body temperatures.

vi.Let them rest

After administering the medication and giving them milk or water let them sleep or rest. The best way to recover from illness is by taking plenty of rest. Sometimes them being fatigued can be the cause of the fever and keeping them up might just worsen the situation. Let their little bodies take some time out to recover.