Fever in Children - Do’s & Don’ts

1. Fever in Children: Do’s & Don’ts Parents often are worried about managing fever in their children. Evidently, it is very common in young children. Mainly, there are four ways to measure temperature: in the rectum, under the armpit, in the mouth, and in the ear. If your child has a fever, you can take up certain activities and avoid a few. Here are the do’s and don’ts for parents whose children are suffering from high temperatures. Do’s Give your child plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration caused by fever. Remove excess clothes from your child’s body or replace them with light clothes to manage the high temperature. Check your child’s temperature using a thermometer. Keep your child at home and allow him/her to rest. Check with your doctor if you are worried about high temperatures.      Don’ts   Do not assume your child’s temperature by putting your hand on the forehead or neck. Covering up the body with too many blankets will not help. This might even raise the body temperature. If your child is aged below 2 months, do not give paracetamol. If your child is aged below 3 months or weighs under 5kg, do not give ibuprofen. Do not give your child a combination of ibuprofen and paracetamol unless your doctor says.   

2. If your child is aged below 16 years, do not give aspirin. Do not make use of alcohol baths.   Don’t forget fever has a connection with COVID-19 too. It is important to seek your doctor’s advice if you think your child has been exposed to prone places or is experiencing any signs of coronavirus infection. In general, fever can be a sign of a disease or a side effect of a medicine. Individuals who receive chemotherapy drugs or other heavy medicines tend to have fluctuating temperatures. Fever in cancer and other such life-threatening diseases is common due to low immunity. In children, fever mostly occurs as a result of the immune system fighting against an infection. Thus, there is nothing to worry about till severe symptoms occur along with it. Call your doctor Immediately call your doctor if your child:  Has neck pain or stiffness.  Has pale or blue lips and skin.  Has body pain and is drowsy.  Has very cold legs and hands.  Gets bothered by extreme light.  Is facing difficulties in breathing.  Is crying for a very long time.  Is not responding. Seek immediate medical attention if the condition worsens. Also, don’t consider any of the advice given here as a substitute for your doctor’s prescription. Source: http://writeus.me/fever-in-children-dos-donts/