Fever up and down in children is a natural thing and often happens. Usually, fever occurs every 4 hours with varying body temperature. Fever can appear as a natural reaction of the child's body defense to fight bacterial or viral infections in his body. Generally, a child's normal body temperature is around 37.4 C. This temperature can vary depending on the child's activities, especially during the day.
A child can be said to have a fever if his body temperature is above 38ºC. Fever is not always a symptom of a serious illness. However, you still have to be vigilant when this condition is experienced by your little one.
Causes of Fever Up and Down in Children
Basically, fluctuating fevers that occur in children can be caused by certain viral or bacterial infections, such as the dengue virus that causes dengue fever, or Salmonella typhi bacterial infection that causes typhoid or typhoid fever.
The thing to note is how high the fever is. Usually, a low-grade fever until the body temperature reaches 39°C will go away on its own within a few days. However, immediate medical attention is required if the fever is more than 39°C. When it occurs in children aged 6 months to 6 years, a high fever can trigger seizures.
Read Too: Fever Seizures in Children and How to Overcome It
How to Treat Fever Ups and Downs in Children
There are several ways you can do to deal with a child who has a fever up and down, namely by giving him medicine containing paracetamol or ibuprofen according to the instructions for use on the drug packaging label. In addition, you can also do some of the tips below when there is a fever that goes up and down in children:
- Give a warm compress on the forehead area.
- Keep the room temperature at a moderate temperature, which is around 20–22°C.
- Give clothes that are light and comfortable.
Not only that, make sure the child is well hydrated, because a high body temperature can make the body lose a lot of fluids. If left unchecked, this can lead to dehydration which can then lead to various other health problems. If your little one is over 1 year old, give water or drinks that contain electrolytes. The electrolytes in the drink you give serve to maintain the normal function of cells and organs of the human body.
In addition, electrolytes are also easily absorbed by the body so that they can replace body fluids more quickly, especially when a child has a fever. As a parent, you need to be alert when your child has a fever that goes up and down or a high fever that lasts for 3 days in a row and is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Rash
- Dehydration
- Frequent vomiting
- Headache
- Stomach ache
- Difficult to wake up when sleeping
- Sluggish
Don't hesitate to take your child directly to the nearest emergency room or see a doctor immediately, especially if these symptoms are also accompanied by some of the symptoms of COVID-19, such as coughing, runny nose, or shortness of breath.
When Children Have High Fever, Parents Should Not Panic
A child with a high fever can worry parents. However, don't panic! Stay calm, in order to be able to help cope with fever in children better. A child's normal temperature is 36.5 – 37.5° C, and can be considered as having a fever when the temperature rises to more than 38°C. Fever in children can be caused by many things, but that does not mean it should be treated immediately with medication.
Causes of High Fever in Children
Fever is the body's natural mechanism of fighting infection. The appearance of a fever in children indicates that the child's immune system is working to fight the flu or other infections. Fever occurs when the brain gives orders to increase body temperature. This is needed to direct white blood cells against viruses and bacteria that interfere with the body. There are several causes of high fever in children that need to be known, namely:
1. Infection
As explained earlier that fever is a sign of a child's immune system fighting infection. Infectious diseases that can cause high fever in children include flu, roseola, tonsillitis, ear infections, upper respiratory tract infections (ARI), kidney infections , urinary tract infection (UTI), chickenpox, and whooping cough.
2. Clothing and ambient temperature
Not only infection, fever can also attack a child if he is too long to be outside in hot weather. Fever can also occur when children wear clothes that are too thick. This condition is usually experienced by infants, especially newborns. It is advisable to dress the baby in thick clothes only if the air temperature is indeed cold.
3. Immunization effect
Some children and infants may also develop a fever after immunization. Usually the fever is relatively mild. Ask the doctor who gave the immunization, about the treatment that may be needed if the child has a fever after immunization.
How to Overcome High Fever in Children
When a fever occurs, body fluids evaporate more quickly, increasing the risk of dehydration. Therefore, the important thing to do first when dealing with high fever in children is to meet their fluid needs. Make sure your child is getting enough fluids to keep their body hydrated. In addition, try to make him eat nutritious foods and high water content, such as fruit or soup. In infants, adequate fluid intake by giving him more breast milk or formula milk.
In addition, recent studies have shown that dengue patients who consume electrolyte isotonic drinks are known to experience less nausea and vomiting. In fact, the fever he experienced went down faster than those with DHF who only consumed water. Therefore, complete your baby's fluid needs when he has a fever by giving electrolyte isotonic drinks. That way, your little one's fever can be resolved immediately.
In addition to meeting the body's need for fluids, there are several other ways that can also be done to treat high fever in children at home, including:
- Make sure the room temperature remains cool to make the child feel comfortable.
- Cover the child with a thin cloth and open the window so that air circulation is smoother and the room temperature feels cooler.
- For children aged at least 1 year, maintain maximum body fluids with electrolyte isotonic drinks. The content of ION in it can replace lost body fluids more quickly.
- Place a small towel soaked in warm water on the child's forehead as a compress. It is not recommended to use cold water to compress, because it can increase body temperature and make the child shiver.
- Get plenty of rest and don't go out yet.
In principle, when a child has a fever, make the conditions as comfortable as possible to prevent the child from shivering or overheating. Although a high fever does not always indicate a serious illness, parents should remain vigilant.
Causes of Fever Up and Down in Children and How to Treat It
No comments:
Post a Comment