We bring to your attention a chapter from the book “200 Myths and Facts about Caring for a Baby,” in which famous American pediatricians discuss established opinions related to fever in a child.

Myth 1. The fever must be reduced

In fact: elevated temperature plays an important role.

Facts

You've probably been told that children have higher temperatures than adults, and this is normal, but you still get scared when you see the thermometer creeping up: 38.3°C... 38.8°C. .. 39.4°C. Is it necessary to lower the temperature? It all depends on the specific case, but in principle it is better if the fever subsides on its own. Don't give in to "heat phobia" (more on that below).

If a child's body is struggling with flu or another, the temperature helps him. Some viruses and bacteria reproduce at normal body temperature. Fever helps get rid of intruders and is a signal that the body is producing more white blood cells, which fight viruses. By bringing down the temperature immediately or shortly after it appears, you prevent the body from getting rid of the infection, which would have passed faster without your intervention. High fever is not a disease. In reality she is.

Fever: when not to worry, and when is it time to call a doctor?

Depending on the age of the child, the words “normal temperature” can mean completely different things. For example, if the baby is not yet three years old, a rectal temperature of 36°C to 37.9°C is considered normal. You may get different results by taking rectal, oral, axillary, and tympanic (ear) temperatures. When talking with your doctor, do not forget to clarify exactly how you. Be aware that wax in the ear can affect the accuracy of the measurement, as can drinking hot or cold drinks. The AAP (American Pediatrics Association) recommends the use of rectal thermometers for children under three years of age.

A baby may be more or less hot depending on external conditions, such as weather, clothing and physical activity. In addition, body temperature rises in the evening and drops again at night. Thus, there are several "normal" temperatures.

I offer you practical tips that will help you figure out when it’s time to call a doctor.

• If your baby is under 2 months old and has a rectal temperature of 38°C or higher, call your doctor immediately. This is very important because a fever can be a sign of a serious illness or infection.
• If your baby is 3 to 6 months old and has a rectal temperature of 38.3°C or higher, you should also call the doctor.
• In a child older than 6 months, a rectal temperature of 39.4°C is a reason to call a doctor.

Ask your pediatrician when to call the doctor for an older child. The pediatrician will give you appropriate recommendations depending on the age of the baby, how long the fever lasts and the presence of other symptoms. It's not just about the height of the column on the thermometer. Fever is an important symptom, but the appearance and well-being of a sick child is no less important. If a baby has a fever, this does not mean that he is seriously ill (some parents believe that if the temperature is high, the reasons must be more than serious, but this is not an axiom). When a child looks and feels unwell, special attention should be paid to the temperature. So, call the doctor if your child develops the following symptoms in addition to a fever: sore throat or ear, persistent cough, unexplained rash, lethargy, restlessness, unusual sleepiness, refusal to eat, repeated vomiting or diarrhea.

As mentioned earlier, for a baby aged 3 months to 3 years, the reason to call a doctor should be a rectal temperature above 38°C. When using a tympanic thermometer, this figure is 37.5°C. For children over three years old, an oral temperature of 37.2°C is considered high. (For children over three years of age, an electronic oral thermometer can be used.)

Some parents like electronic tympanic thermometers for babies, which measure temperature in the middle ear, but their readings are not always accurate due to earwax or improper placement of the thermometer in the ear. Be sure to tell the pediatrician how you measured your child's temperature. Do not use mercury thermometers. They are considered dangerous because the thin glass housing contains a highly toxic substance, contact with which must be avoided. Although most modern thermometers do not contain mercury, glass is still best kept away from children.

Myth 2. Temperatures above 40°C can cause brain damage

In fact: a temperature of 40°C is indeed considered high, but it will not cause brain damage.

Facts

You just learned that babies' temperatures can run much higher than adults', and that's normal, but you still can't stop worrying, especially if your baby is clearly not feeling well. The temperature may jump a couple more notches above 40°C until the child is truly at risk of brain damage. The fever that accompanies illness is beneficial. This is the body's response to infection. When a bad microbe (virus or bacteria) enters the body, white blood cells begin to produce the hormone interleukin, causing the body temperature to rise and the virus to die.

Even with the high heat that accompanies the infection, there is no risk of brain damage, but the high temperatures associated with being in a car on a hot day or overheating in the sun and intense physical activity are very dangerous. In such extreme situations, the body loses its ability to cool itself. Sometimes this can be due to an abnormal internal reaction of the body, but the most common cause remains an external factor, such as exposure to hot air or water. Heatstroke can cause temperatures as high as 45°C and require immediate medical attention.

My child had febrile seizures. Is it dangerous?

Febrile seizures, a type of seizure caused by fever, occur in 4% of children from birth to 5 years of age. At the same time, the baby experiences convulsions and his eyes roll up to his forehead, so it’s scary to look at him, but usually the attack goes away within 5 minutes and does not lead to any serious consequences. Although there may be a genetic predisposition to these seizures, most children do not have another seizure. Children who have had febrile seizures are no more likely to have problems with intellectual and mental development or develop epilepsy than others. However, such children need to bring down the temperature, and parents should discuss this issue with their doctor. If your child has had a febrile seizure or any other seizure, with or without fever, tell your pediatrician immediately, but don't worry about any long-term consequences.

Myth 3. You can alternate between ibuprofen and acetaminophen to reduce your fever.

In fact: alternating medications is not only unnecessary, but also generally dangerous.

Facts

Previously, pediatricians advised parents to alternately give their babies two antipyretic drugs - ibuprofen and acetaminophen - to quickly reduce the temperature. There is evidence that this method actually works, but pediatricians have finally come to a consensus. They believe that such treatment does more harm to the child than good. It is very easy to confuse the sequence and dosage of medications, especially if the baby is prescribed other medications. Antipyretics are available in various forms: there are drops for infants, as well as syrup and chewable tablets for older children. If you give your child medications in different forms, the risk of making a dosage mistake increases.

Choose one fever reducer (don't give ibuprofen to babies under six months). Ask your pediatrician about its benefits. Some doctors recommend taking ibuprofen for temperatures above 39.4°C. Never give your child aspirin or drugs that contain it (also called salicylate or acetylsalicylic acid), as it can cause Reye's syndrome, a very rare but dangerous disease that causes liver and brain damage.

In addition to drug treatment, consult with your pediatrician about other ways to reduce fever, for example, in which cases wiping with cool water (29.4-32.2 ° C) is indicated. Do not use cold water. This is not only unpleasant, but can also cause the child to shiver, which will only increase the temperature. The body loses moisture from the heat, so give your child something to drink. Don't bundle him up, don't cover him with extra blankets, and keep the room temperature cool. Too many layers of clothing and warm air can make a fever worse.

Would you (or a doctor you know) suffer from “feverphobia”?

The ibuprofen/acetaminophen combination has gained popularity due to the misconception that fever is always dangerous and should be treated as a separate illness and that febrile seizures cause brain damage. The term "feverphobia" was coined in 1980 by Dr. Barton Schmit, who studied popular misconceptions related to temperature. And although we know that fever is a sign of certain processes occurring in the body, and at the same time a protective mechanism in the fight against infection, many people still suffer from this phobia.

The parents in Schmit's study believed that even a mild fever could lead to seizures, brain damage, and even death, so they did their best to bring down the fever by resorting to sponge baths and alternating medications. Many participants were confident that if they did not immediately bring down a fever caused by an infection, it would be very difficult to do so later (fever associated with infections does not exceed 40.5-41 ° C), or that the increase in temperature was caused by something then very serious (an exotic virus or a rare disease), and also that if the fever is not brought down with the help of medications, the consequences will be terrible.

But parents are not the only ones who bear the blame for “inciting” heatphobia. We, pediatricians, also had a hand in this.

One study examined pediatricians' views on fever, and most agreed that high temperatures increase the risk of brain damage and death. This is indeed possible (if the temperature has risen very rapidly), but such cases are extremely rare. The researchers also asked pediatricians why they recommended staggered dosing, and they said they did so because they followed the AAP's recommendations, even though they never made such recommendations.

Myth 4. Children with elevated temperatures should not walk outside.

In fact: a child with a low temperature can walk both indoors and outdoors.

Facts

If a child has a fever, we assume (wrongly) that it affects him in the same way as adults, and that he will feel better if he lies on the sofa or in bed and rests. In fact, lethargy and irritability, which we strongly associate with high fever, appear in many children only when the thermometer reaches 38.3°C. A sick child may behave completely normally and show interest in play and communication. If the weather is warm (but not hot) and the baby has enough strength and energy, a breath of fresh air while walking in a stroller or in the yard can be much more beneficial than sitting in an apartment (where bacteria can breed). On a hot day, it's best to stay in a cool room because your baby's temperature may spike and cause heat exhaustion.

04.04.2011

Fever or heat- this is an elevated body temperature above normal and a normal reaction to the introduction of pathogenic bacteria and viruses into the body. Also, the temperature can increase due to injury, heat stroke, dehydration and other problems in the body.

Normal human body temperature- from 36 to 36.9 °C. In the mornings it can drop by half a degree, and in the evening it can rise. In different parts of the body, the temperature has different, but not very different, indicators. In the oral cavity and rectum it can fluctuate and reach 37.5 °C.

It is worth saying that the norm may differ for different people. For 10% of the population, normal temperature ranges from 36 to 38 ° C, provided the body is healthy and there are no infections. This is explained by the individual characteristics of metabolism and vital activity of the body.

Many people are afraid of fever and try to bring it down as quickly as possible, which is a big mistake. After all, the occurrence of fever is a desirable reaction for the body. This is the main sign that the body has begun to fight the infection on its own.

Bacteria and viruses are not able to live at high body temperatures, so heat is an ally in the fight against disease. As the temperature rises, metabolic processes accelerate, toxins and waste are removed from the body, and antibodies are intensively produced to suppress infection.

However, in some cases, high temperature can pose a threat to human health. Severe fever with a temperature above 41 ° C is especially dangerous. And for people with cardiovascular diseases, even a low temperature is dangerous.

Types of elevated and high body temperature

In medicine, three conditions are distinguished according to the degree of temperature increase:

• low-grade or elevated - from 37 to 38 ° C;
• febrile or moderate - from 38 to 39 ° C;
• pyretic or high - from 39 to 41 ° C;
• hyperthermic or excessive and the most dangerous for humans - above 41 ° C.

Based on duration, fever is divided into acute (from several days to two weeks), subacute (from two weeks to 45 days) and chronic (more than 45 days). For reasons of occurrence, fever can be non-infectious and infectious.

Fever has periods of rising, rising and falling temperatures. It decreases in different ways. A gradual decrease in temperature over 4-5 days with slight evening increases is called lysis, and the lightning-fast end of fever with a sharp decrease in temperature within one day is called a crisis. It is accompanied by profuse sweating. Previously, a crisis was a sign of recovery of the body, but with the advent of antibiotics and strong antipyretics, this criterion lost its significance.

Based on daily temperature fluctuations, the following forms of fever, called temperature curves, are distinguished:

• Steady or permanent- a constant high temperature of 39 °C remains for several days with daily fluctuations of no more than 1 °C. Characteristic of viral infections, pneumonia and typhoid fever.
• Laxative or remitting- the temperature is constantly elevated, but during the day it can fluctuate by 2 °C. It is observed with purulent wounds and abscesses, tuberculosis, and neoplasms.
• Intermittent or intermittent- daily fluctuations are more than 1 °C, while in the morning the temperature is normal, but during the day or at night it rises and lasts for several hours. This fever occurs with malaria, purulent infections, and infectious mononucleosis.
• Wasting or hectic- low or normal temperature in the morning with daily fluctuations reaching up to 5 degrees and accompanied by profuse sweating. Appears in septic diseases and pulmonary tuberculosis.
• Kinky or Reverse- the temperature in the morning is higher than in the evening. Occurs in tuberculosis, brucellosis, sepsis.
• Irregular or irregular- has no pattern in fluctuations. Occurs in endocarditis, rheumatism, tuberculosis, sepsis.
• wavy- The temperature rises slowly over several days, followed by a slow decline and long periods of normal temperature. Occurs in lymphogranulomatosis and brucellosis.
• Returnable- periods of normal temperature alternate with an increase to 40 °C. Occurs with malaria and relapsing fever.

Temperature curves have diagnostic value and depend on the body’s ability to resist and the nature of the infection.

Causes of fever

Almost any infection can cause fever. When harmful viruses and bacteria are introduced, the body begins to produce pyrogens - proteins that trigger the processes of increasing temperature.

High temperature activates the production of interferon, which is designed to protect the body from pathogens. The higher the temperature, the more this important substance for fighting the disease is produced. An artificial decrease in temperature reduces the activity of interferon, as a result the period of illness is prolonged. The body copes most easily with infection at 39°C.

If the immune system is weak and organ functions are impaired, the temperature may approach a dangerous level of about 41 degrees or higher. Fever is most often a symptom of one of many diseases:

Fever may be due to factors not associated with any disease:

• insect bites, toxic or allergic reaction of the body;
• heat or sunstroke, dehydration;
• physical overexertion in hot conditions.

In some cases, there is a condition called fever of unknown origin. It is manifested by an increase in temperature above 38.5 ° C for two or more weeks for no apparent reason.

Symptoms and signs

An increase in temperature is most often combined with accompanying symptoms that help to understand the cause of the fever. For example, when an infection occurs, a cough, redness and sore throat, swelling and other signs of illness may appear.

As the heat increases, sweating decreases, muscle tone increases, the skin becomes hot and dry, and the pulse quickens. The following symptoms are also present:

• chills, trembling, weakness, and muscle pain;
• headache, facial flushing, rapid breathing;
• feeling of thirst, lack of appetite;
• first excitement, and then inhibition of the nervous system;
• confusion and delirium with high fever;
• Small children cry and become irritable.

If sleep is disturbed and the temperature exceeds 38.5 °C, doctors recommend lowering the temperature. The most dangerous is prolonged fever. If the temperature rises to 39 °C in adults and 38.5 °C in children and lasts more than three days, you should immediately consult a doctor. Fever with a temperature above 40 °C is dangerous for any duration.

If the temperature rises above 37.5 °C in children three months to six months of age, a doctor’s call is also required, especially if the fever lasts more than a day. In children aged six months to 6 years, at high temperatures, convulsions, rashes, and stiff neck may be observed, which is also a signal for immediate medical attention.

Diagnostics

Since an increase in temperature is a symptom of a disease, diagnosis is aimed at finding out the cause of the fever:

• medical history is studied;
• the patient is examined;
• body temperature is measured;
• blood, urine and stool tests are prescribed;
• a sputum sample is taken;
• If necessary, additional tests are prescribed (ultrasound, radiography, MRI, gynecological examination, etc.).

Antipyretics

• drink more warm liquid in the form of water, lingonberry or cranberry juice;
• apply cool compresses to the forehead, wrists, neck, armpits and groin areas;
• wipe the body with slightly warm water (about 33 °C), you can take a bath with warm water (about 35 °C);
• regularly ventilate the room and do not wrap the patient too warmly;
• take antipyretic drugs (paracetamol, Panadol, ibuprofen, etc.).

The pharmacy market offers a wide variety of antipyretic drugs. They all act on the same principle and have antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

To improve the condition, you only need to reduce the temperature by 1 ° C, so you should not take antipyretic tablets one after another. It is also not advisable to take these drugs in courses and use them for more than three days in a row without consulting your doctor. And if the temperature rises to 40 °C or higher, it is necessary to urgently call an ambulance.

What not to do at elevated temperatures:

• use products that can increase the temperature (alcohol compresses, mustard plasters, hot showers or steam rooms);
• drink coffee, hot tea with raspberry jam or hot milk with honey, as well as drink alcoholic beverages;
• wrap up;
• It is undesirable to humidify or heat the air in the room where the patient is.

If your child has a fever

Most pediatricians believe that it is not worth lowering the temperature if it is below 38 °C. To avoid mistakes, it is important to measure the temperature correctly.

To correctly assess a child’s condition, it is necessary to know his individual norm. To do this, you should measure the temperature of a healthy baby twice a day for one week. It is important that measurements are taken at the same time. The average indicator will indicate the child’s temperature norm.

During the first 5 days of life, most newborn babies may experience fevers of up to 38 or even 39 °C. This is a natural process - the baby’s body adapts to the environment.

Temperature may vary in different parts of the body. For children from one month to 7 years old, the following is considered the norm:

• in the armpits, groin and elbow - from 36.4 to 37.2 °C;
• oral - from 36.6 to 37.2 °C;
• rectal - from 36.9 to 37.5 °C.

Temperature is measured in several ways: in the armpit or groin, orally (in the mouth) and rectally (in the rectum). For children under 5 years of age, the rectal method is recommended, which is considered more reliable. You need to put the child on his side, bend his legs and insert an electronic thermometer into the rectum no more than 1 cm. You cannot use a mercury thermometer with this method of measurement.

Children over 5 years old can have their temperature measured in their mouth, armpits, or groin. Before measuring, the area of ​​skin where the thermometer will be located must be wiped dry, as moisture distorts the readings. The thermometer is installed so that its tip is completely in the skin fold.

The duration of measurement in the mouth with a mercury thermometer is 3 minutes, while the electronic thermometer emits a sound signal. It takes about 7 minutes to measure the temperature in the armpit or groin with a mercury thermometer. All measurement methods are suitable for teenagers. Temperature during illness should be measured three times a day, and at night up to two times (at 12 am and around 4 am).

Currently, there are many types of thermometers and various instruments for measuring temperature. In addition to the mercury thermometer, you can use digital or electronic thermometers of various shapes, temperature-sensitive indicators, as well as various infrared models.

However, it should be taken into account that the indicators give approximate values, indicating only an increase in temperature. Electronic thermometers have errors of up to 0.5 °C, require frequent battery changes and lose accuracy over time. The most accurate temperature meter is still a glass mercury thermometer, the use of which requires caution.

If a child has a fever of 38°C for more than one or two days, a doctor should be called. Before his arrival, you can try to improve the baby’s condition and bring down the temperature on your own. To do this you need:

• put the child to bed and give him plenty of liquid at room temperature (warm water, fruit drinks, sour compotes);
• limit physical activity and strong emotions;
• feed in small portions;
• put on light, loose clothing for the baby;
• apply cool compresses at room temperature to the forehead, armpits or groin area;
• wipe with a damp cloth soaked in a vinegar solution (dilute 9% vinegar in water in a 1:1 ratio), without touching the face, nipples, wounds, acne and genitals;
• Avoid inhalations and warm compresses.

When drying a child, the skin should be allowed to air dry. At the same time, you need to make sure that it does not freeze, otherwise the shaking will raise the temperature again. Measurements should be taken every half hour and rubdowns should be repeated until the temperature drops 1°C.

If the temperature does not exceed 38 °C and the baby is feeling normal, the use of antipyretics is not recommended. If you experience severe malaise, chills, weakness and have had convulsions in the past, you can give your baby an antipyretic drug that is part of the paracetamol group (Panadol, Tylenol, Calpol, Efferalgan, Cefekon).

It is important to remember that you should not lower the temperature suddenly. Taking one dose of an antipyretic is enough to reduce the rate by 1 °C. A sharp decrease can trigger febrile seizures.

The safest means for reducing fever are drugs based on paracetamol and ibuprofen. It is best to use syrups or candles. They are softer and more effective.

Aspirin is contraindicated for children under 16 years of age. This drug can cause liver failure and Ray's syndrome, a condition that affects the brain and can lead to coma. It is also very risky to give children analgin, which can cause the white blood cell count to drop to too dangerous a level.

Children should not be given medications more or more often than indicated in the instructions or prescribed by the doctor. If the baby is not yet one year old, all medications should be discussed with the attending physician.

For what symptoms and temperature should you call a doctor?

If the patient is an adult, a visit to a doctor is required for the following symptoms:

• temperature above 40 °C, has not gone down for more than two or three days;
• body temperature rises and falls for a week or more (even if it is not very high);
• sudden changes from low temperatures to 37.2 ° C and to high temperatures of about 40 ° C;
• there are serious chronic diseases, such as respiratory or heart diseases, as well as immune ones;
• the appearance of a rash, bruises, dizziness, dark urine and pain when urinating;
• difficulty moving arms and legs.

For fever in children, you should call a doctor when the following symptoms are present:

• temperature in three-month-old babies when measured rectally is 38 °C and above;
• temperature 39 °C and higher in babies from 3 months to one year;
• in infants under 3 months of age, fever lasts longer than one or two days;
• elevated temperature in older children lasts more than two to three days;
• temperature not reduced by medications above 40 ° C;
• cough, sore throat, ears;
• severe headache, difficulty breathing, blue tongue or lips, rash, bruises;
• difficulty moving, stiff neck;
• constant crying, difficulty waking up;
• there are serious diseases related to the heart, immune system, and other health problems.

If the listed symptoms are severe, it is best to immediately call an ambulance.

What doctors do, treatment

The called general practitioner first of all examines the patient, finds out the history of the illness and, if necessary, provides first aid. If a serious illness is suspected, a specialist may hospitalize the patient.

To determine the factors causing an increase in temperature, blood, urine and stool tests are prescribed. Additional examination is also carried out: ultrasound of the abdominal cavity, radiography and other studies if necessary.

Based on the results of the examination, treatment is prescribed to eliminate the cause of the fever. If serious diseases are detected, the help of specialized specialists may be needed.

First, let’s understand that each of us has a temperature and normally it is not necessarily 36.6 °C. This is a “hospital average” because in a healthy person it can range from 36.1 to 37.2 °C and even change throughout the day. For example, it increases after eating or heavy exercise.

When we say “The child has a fever,” we mean fever - a condition in which the body temperature is elevated, that is, the thermometer under the arm shows more than 37.2 °C.

If you place a thermometer rectally (in the rectum) or measure the temperature in the ear, the values ​​​​are usually higher Fever: First aid. Then the fever is more than 38 °C. When measured orally (in the mouth) - above 37.8 °C.

Why does the temperature rise

Fever is a protective reaction of the body, usually to various infections. At high temperatures, it is more difficult for bacteria and viruses to survive, so the body starts a process that destroys dangerous microorganisms, and at the same time activates the immune system Fever.

Children's temperature rises more often due to respiratory viral infections, what we call colds. But this is not necessary: ​​fever occurs with many other diseases. In addition to infections, fever may be caused by injuries, overheating, cancer, hormonal and autoimmune diseases, and even some medications that have side effects.

Adults notice a high temperature based on special symptoms:

1. Weaknesses.
2. Headache.
3. Feeling chills and trembling.
4. Loss of appetite.
5. Muscle pain.
6. Sweating.

Children who can already talk may complain of discomfort. But the temperature also rises in infants who cannot describe their condition.

The reason to measure the temperature is unusual behavior of the child:

1. Refusal to eat or breastfeed.
2. Tearfulness, irritability.
3. Drowsiness, fatigue, passivity.

You can't talk about a fever based on a kiss on the forehead. Only the thermometer shows high temperature.

When and why to lower the temperature

An elevated temperature is a sign of a proper immune response when it comes to infections. Therefore, it should not be reduced so as not to delay recovery Advice for managing child fever. It usually makes sense to give antipyretics after the temperature has risen. On the safe use of antipyretics in children up to 39 °C - these are rectal measurements. When the temperature is checked under the armpit, doctors recommend lowering it after 38.5 °C, but not earlier. Don't worry, the fever itself is not that bad.

Many people fear that high temperatures will damage brain cells. But, according to WHO, it is safe for children until it reaches The Management of fever in young children with acute respiratory infections in developing countries 42°C.

Fever is not an independent disease, but only a symptom of it. When the temperature is reduced with medications, the external manifestations of the disease are removed, but they are not cured.

In rare cases, too high a temperature in children leads to febrile seizures - involuntary muscle contractions. It looks creepy and makes parents faint, but mostly the attacks stop on their own and have no consequences Fever. Call the doctors and make sure that the child does not injure himself: lay him on his side, hold him, open his thick clothes. There is no need to put anything in your mouth, this only increases the risk of injury.

But everyone experiences fever differently: someone can read and play even at 39 °C on the thermometer, someone lies down at 37.5 °C and cannot move. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the temperature for the sake of convenience and improvement of the child’s well-being.

If the child feels normal, then there is no need to do anything about the high temperature.

The simplest, fastest and most effective way is to give your child antipyretics based on ibuprofen or paracetamol. They are produced in forms that are convenient for children: sweet syrups or candles. Be careful if you give your child syrup: flavorings and dyes can cause allergies.

Do not under any circumstances exceed the dosage of the medication. It is usually calculated based on the weight of the child. Children, especially preschoolers, can vary greatly in weight even at the same age, so focus on the number of kilograms, not years.

Remember that medications take time to act: from 0.5 to 1.5 hours. So don’t rush to take your temperature 10 minutes after taking the pill.

Use the measuring cups, spoons and syringes that come with the medicine. Do not take medicine in the dark or into a teaspoon by eye: you should always know how much and what medicine you gave your child.

To avoid overdose, do not give your kids combination medications for cold symptoms. They already contain paracetamol or another antipyretic drug, so it's easy to miss the point of overdosing if you give multiple medications at the same time.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen can be taken on the same day Paracetamol for children, but don’t get carried away and don’t give your child everything at once. If, for example, you gave paracetamol and it didn’t help much, then when it’s time for a new dose of the antipyretic, give ibuprofen (or vice versa).

Do not give aspirin and analgin: they can cause serious side effects in children.

There are also physical methods, although they are ineffective: wipe the child’s palms and feet with a damp towel, put a cool compress on the forehead. Just don’t use ice for this, just soak a towel with water at room temperature.

When to call the doctor

Experienced parents know that mild ARVI can be dealt with independently, at home. In such cases, the doctor is needed only to issue a certificate or sick leave for the parents. But you still need to see a pediatrician if:

1. You need to get a doctor's advice and calm down. Or you just think that the child needs medical attention.
2. A child with a fever is less than three months old.
3. The child is less than six months old, and the temperature above 38 °C lasts more than 1 day.
4. The child is less than a year old, and the temperature above 39 °C lasts more than 1 day.
5. The child developed a rash.
6. Along with the temperature, there are severe symptoms: uncontrollable cough, vomiting, severe pain, photophobia.

When to call an ambulance

You need to urgently seek help if:

1. The temperature has reached high values ​​(more than 39 °C) and continues to rise after taking antipyretics.
2. The child has a confused consciousness: he is too sleepy, he cannot be woken up, he reacts poorly to the environment.
3. Having difficulty breathing or swallowing.
4. Vomiting was added to the temperature.
5. A rash appeared in the form of small bruises, which does not disappear when you press on the skin.
6. Convulsions began.
7. Signs of dehydration have appeared: the child rarely goes to the toilet, he has a dry mouth with a red tongue, he cries without tears. In infants, the fontanel may become sunken.

How to help a child with a fever

The main thing we can do to help fight fever is to eliminate its cause. If the problem is a bacterial infection, they are needed (only as prescribed by a doctor). If other diseases are to blame, they must be treated. And only viruses go away on their own; you just need to support the body, which will destroy these viruses.

Let's have a warm drink

At high temperatures, the moisture that is in the human body evaporates faster, so there is a risk of dehydration. This is especially true for children: they are small and they need very little to lose 10% of fluid. With a lack of water, the mucous membranes dry out, it becomes more difficult to breathe, the child has nothing to sweat with, that is, he cannot lose heat on his own. Therefore, warm drink at temperature is very, very important.

Give your child juices, compotes, tea, water more often, and persuade him to drink at least a few sips. Breastfeeding should be offered to breastfeeding babies more often, but if the baby refuses, it is better to give him water or a special drink than to wait for him to return to breast milk.

Buy a humidifier

In order not to increase fluid loss with breathing (and we exhale steam, which contains a lot of moisture from the mucous membranes), humidify the air in the room. To keep relative humidity at 40-60%, it is best to buy a special humidifier. But you can also try.

Get out

Every day, wet clean the room: wash the floors and collect dust. This is again necessary to make breathing easier. Don't be afraid to open the windows and ventilate. Fresh air is especially necessary for a person whose body is fighting an illness, because ventilation is one of the ways to disinfect a room. An open window won't make it worse, but hot, dry air full of germs will.

By the way, you can bathe your child if he has a fever.

Of course, when the baby wants to sleep and lie down, there is no need to drag him to the bathroom. But if the general condition is normal, the child moves and plays, he can wash himself.

Follow a diet

Feed your child healthy food: do not give kilograms of candy just because he is sick. If the baby has no appetite, there is no need to force him to eat. A forced lunch will not help you cope with the infection. It’s better to cook chicken broth and feed it to your child: it’s liquid, food, and helps fight inflammation.

What not to do if your child has a fever

The best way to survive an unpleasant period of illness without problems and losses is to provide your child with good care. For some reason (by tradition, by the advice of grandmothers, by advice from forums), many harmful actions are considered mandatory when treating fever. How to avoid making mistakes:

1. Don't wrap your baby up. If the temperature is high, then warm clothes and two blankets will only aggravate the process. Better persuade him to drink another cup of warm compote.
2. Do not place a heater near your child. In general, if the temperature in the room is above 22 °C, you need to reduce it. For a child with a fever, it will be better if the room is 18–20 °C: inhaling such air will not dry out the mucous membranes.
3. Don’t steam your feet, don’t force them to breathe over a pan of something hot, don’t put mustard plasters on: These treatments have no proven effectiveness, and the risk of burning and overheating is higher than any possible benefit. Besides, these are unpleasant activities, and the child is already feeling bad. If you really want to help your baby, it’s better to figure out how to entertain him when he’s having a hard time.
4. Do not rub your child with vinegar and vodka. These methods help little, but they are very toxic for children.
5. Don't put your child to bed if he doesn't want to go there. The patient will prescribe bed rest for himself. If he has the strength to play, then that’s good.

What to do if the temperature rises after vaccination

Some vaccines cause temporary reactions in the body - redness at the injection site, irritability, and a slight increase in temperature. These are not complications, everything will go away on its own in 1-3 days.

You can eliminate unpleasant symptoms in the same way as in the case of any other temperature: antipyretics and a suitable regimen.

Usually the temperature after vaccination is not higher than 37.5 °C. But if the fever increases, consult a doctor.