Fever refers to the high temperature above the normal range, which is a very common symptom in children. Everyone experiences fevers during childhood. Excessive fear and anxiety about a child’s fever is common in most parents, including highly educated parents, some leading to excessive treatment of fever.
What does the baby have a fever because of? It can be divided into three types: non-disease, pseudo fever and disease.
Non-disease causes include a temporary rise in body temperature caused by excessive exercise, a brief fever after a flu shot, a body heat that can’t be removed from an infant’s body due to excessive wrapping or after a hot bath.
Pseudo fevers include errors in estimation, incorrect use of thermometers, or malfunctioning of thermometers.
In addition, many diseases can cause fever, such as various viral and bacterial infections, cancers, autoimmune diseases, dehydration, and more. These need to go through various kinds of checks to make sure of them.
If the following three conditions occur, be sure to go to the hospital as soon as possible to seek professional help to ensure the health of the child:
Fever is an important defense response of the human body to pathogenic factors. When inflammation causes fever, blood vessels dilate, blood flow accelerates, and local and systemic metabolism increases. The enhanced detoxification ability of the liver can inhibit the growth and reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms in the body. The ability of white blood cells and other lymphocytes in the blood to destroy pathogenic microorganisms is improved, which can promote the regression of inflammation. Therefore, for the fever below 38 degrees Celsius, there is no need to hurry to cool down and reduce the fever, otherwise it may cover up the condition, which is not conducive to the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
For physical cooling of baby fever, parents can use a 35% alcohol bath. Wipe from the baby’s neck with a small towel, patting down from the top. In addition, warm water can be used to bathe at a temperature of 27 to 37 degrees Celsius. Parents can also soak the child’s feet in hot water. Soaking their feet can improve blood circulation, ease discomfort, and help cool the fever. Moreover, ice packs or pillows can also be used to cool down.
If the baby’s fever reaches 38.5 degrees Celsius or more, to timely use antipyretic. For infants up to 1 year of age, it is best to use drops because of the low concentration and low irritation of the drug. If the child is above 2 years old, it is best to take oral liquid antipyretic medicine. For older children, they can take chewable tablets.
With regard to the care of the baby fever, in addition to the doctor’s treatment and prescription, it is also important to follow the right way to care for the child with fever. First of all, if we want to determine whether a baby has fever, we can take its temperature every four hours. Then, when the baby has a fever, help him put on the right amount of clothes to avoid overheating or too cold. Clothing should be based on cotton, easy to absorb sweat. After sweating, change wet clothes immediately. Further, keep indoor air circulation to make your baby comfortable. Sweating with fever will make the body lose water, so you need to give your baby the right amount of water.
The above nursing knowledge, mothers should keep in mind, especially new mothers. We can also learn these nursing knowledge through the Nursing College in Kuala Lumpur.