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Fever is an abnormal rise in body temperature. Normally our temperature is between 35.8 and 37.5 ° C. From 38 ° C, it is a question of fever.
Our body has a kind of thermostat. As soon as pathogens such as viruses and bacteria arrive in the body, our immune system turns the thermostat up a few degrees because these pathogens proliferate less well when temperatures are higher. In general, therefore, a fever is a good thing. It is not a disease in itself, but a first defensive reaction of the body.
What is its frequency?
Fever accompanies almost all infections. A slight rise in temperature (> 37.5 ° C) can also occur in a child without necessarily being sick, for example when teething, in hot weather, after intense effort, after heavy crying attacks or when wearing clothes that are too warm. Conversely, some infections, sometimes serious, do not cause a fever. This absence of fever is explained by a malfunction of the natural immune system.
How to recognize it?
Fever can be measured in different ways:
- the electronic thermometer is the most reliable. In children under 5, the temperature is ideally measured in the anus, about 2 cm deep. In the baby, you can optionally use a little petroleum jelly or baby oil to facilitate the insertion of the thermometer. After the age of 5, the measurement under the tongue is also reliable. The temperature can also be taken under the armpit, but the arm should be tight against the body for quite a long time.
- the ear thermometermeasures infrared thermal radiation from the eardrum. Although reliable, it is not always easy to use it correctly. In babies, the ear canal is usually still too narrow. In older children, the ear canal should be stretched straight so that the ear thermometer is pointed directly towards the eardrum.
- mercury thermometers (glass) are now not recommended, on the one hand because they can break, on the other hand because the mercury released is toxic.
- frontal stripsare very unreliable.
How is the diagnosis made?
A feverish child will always be the subject of a complete clinical examination: heart and lungs, nose, throat and ears, belly, presence of a rash, reactivity of the child, …
If the doctor finds a cause for the fever, he will treat it if necessary. For common infections such as a cold, diarrhea, ear infection or sore throat, additional tests are not necessary.
If the doctor does not identify the cause of the fever, they will usually order a urine test and possibly a blood test to check for inflammatory factors and measure white blood cells. Sometimes an x-ray of the lungs is also necessary.
Some symptoms may suggest a serious illness: the child no longer eats or drinks, he is no longer responsive, he moans instead of crying, his level of consciousness is reduced, he has small red spots in the shape of a head pin (petechiae) on the skin, his skin folds lose their elasticity, his tongue is dry and his eyes are sunken, … In these cases, hospitalization may be necessary.
What can you do ?
If it is a common cold or ordinary diarrhea, you can calmly wait and see how the disease progresses. If the fever does not exceed 39 ° C, it does not require immediate treatment. If it is accompanied by headache or pain in the muscles, it is better to give paracetamol. Ibuprofen can also be used. The medicament will preferably be administered in syrup. When administered as a suppository, its absorption in the body is quite variable and unpredictable. But of course you can use suppositories if the child is vomiting.
Always make sure your child is drinking enough. If he weighs 10 kg, he should drink about 1 liter per day. If it weighs 20 kg or more, the amount needed is 1.5 liters. Often the appetite is reduced. Therefore, favor foods that are easy to digest and appreciated by the child. Rest is also recommended, as activity can further raise the temperature.
If the fever has no apparent cause, if your child is less responsive, if their level of consciousness is reduced, if they stop eating or drinking, they may have something serious. Get it checked out by a doctor immediately.
Contact a doctor if your baby is less than 3 months old and their temperature is 38 ° C or above. If your baby is 3 to 6 months old, contact a doctor from 39 ° C.
What can your doctor do?
Faced with a common fever, the doctor will prescribe, if necessary, treatment with paracetamol. In children, the dose is 15 mg per kg of body weight, up to 4 times a day. This treatment allows the temperature to be lowered by 1.5 degrees on average. Another possible treatment is ibuprofen, given at a dose of 10 mg per kg, 3 times a day. Aspirin is avoided due to the risk of serious side effects.
Sources
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