My child is feeling so hot. Is a fever dangerous? What do I do?

alishi (69)in #steemiteducation • 5 years ago

Your child has been playing around like normally and suddenly they complain they do not feel well. They are hot and red in the face and when you take their temperature they have a fever.

You have heard many stories about things that can happen when kids get a fever, but it is not the fever itself that harms you, a fever is not always a bad thing, it is also the body's reaction to fighting an infection.

For extra information on fever and why you do not always have to stress about it you can read here.

The part of the brain called the hypothalamus is the regulator of our bodies' temperature. If you are hot it will send a message that you need to sweat and if you are cold you will shiver - the body's natural way of creating a balance again.

When there is an infection in the body the hypothalamus will send a message "to turn up the heat" in order to try and get rid of the germs. The body temperature will rise and hence the fever.

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Different things can cause a fever and like I said before, the fever itself is not a problem, it is the symptoms or causes of the fever that can be a reason for concern.

Most fevers are caused by infections, but it can also be because the child is dressed too warm or teething or after they got their immunization.

A fever do not always have to be treated, in some instances it will just make the child uncomfortable, but it is a safe option to take him/her to the doctor (especially if the fever is higher than 39 degrees celcius) to consider the fever and the symptoms and the cause of it all which then in turn may need treatment.

You can watch your child's action and will be able to determine if it is something serious. Usually when they are still playing, eating and drinking, they will be fine.

Sometimes the infection will cause the absence of eating, but as long as they are still hydrated and visit the toilet like usually, they are still fine.

How will you know your child has a fever and what is normal?

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Fever can cause your child to breathe faster and have a faster heartbeat than normal. Contact your doctor straight away if your child has difficulty breathing.

If the fever is causing your child any type of discomfort, you can treat it. If your child is fine and carries on as normal, the body will sort itself out soon.

There are quite a few over the counter medicines available for fever (always a good idea to keep in your first aid kit) which you can administer at home.

Since your child will most probably feel hot and irritated, you can dress them in cool clothes or even no clothes and sponge them down with a cool sponge. They can also take a cool bath or shower.

Very important - make sure your child stays hydrated, so give them enough fluids.

If your child is vomiting or has diarrhea make sure you give them a re-hydration solution to keep up the electrolytes in their bodies. Do not give your child sports drinks - these are not made for kids. (read more here)

If none of these measurements help and the fever is getting worse, contact your doctor.

There are also a few home remedies that you can try if you do not want to give over the counter medicine to your child.

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It is also better to keep your child at home if they have a fever. Resting is the best way for the body to fight back. If the temperature returns to normal, they can go back to school or carry on with their daily routines again.

If your child has specific complaints like having a headache, has sore when peeing or shows a rash or keeps on vomiting it is best to take them to the doctor.

If they have symptoms like a stiff neck or do not want to stop crying, blue lips or struggling to wake up, you need to get them to hospital as fast as possible.