As a dad myself, I can say from personal experience,
regardless of my training, fevers can be scary for parents.
And when your child is suffering from fever,
it can be hard to think straight
and make important decisions.
So learning what causes fevers and how to treat them
will certainly help in this situation.
So let's take a look at what causes a fever.
You see, everyone has an internal thermostat
that regulates the body temperature.
And the normal human body temperature
is around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, plus or minus
about one degree; or this would be 37 degrees Celsius,
plus or minus about .6 degrees.
When the human body detects an infection or another illness,
the hypothalamus responds by raising the body temperature
to help fight the condition.
So when taking a rectal temperature,
and it's over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit,
this would be considered a fever.
Remember it's not always necessary for a child
with a fever to see their doctor.
It really depends on the age of the child
and the other symptoms that they may have.
Now let's talk about managing the fever.
You see, fever cannot be accurately detected
by the old-fashioned, simply
feeling your child's forehead rule.
It's actually necessary to take their temperature
with a good thermomotor.
Although there are lots of thermometers on the market
that measure temperature in different areas,
parents really should use rectal thermometers
whenever possible, and especially with their infants
or babies to be most accurate.
And then once the fever is detected,
the most important things you can do
is improve your child's comfort and make sure
they get enough fluids so they don't get dehydrated.
Now, I know, while your heart is instinctively
wanting to bring your child right to the doctor's office,
it just may not be necessary.
Especially if the child seems fine,
once their discomfort's treated.
Now let's talk about keeping that fever at bay
when the fever's not serious.
And though not every fever needs to be treated, actually,
there are some things you can do
to help make your child more comfortable.
Treating the child with acetaminophen
or Ibuprofen will usually reduce a fever.
It's important to make sure that we give the right dose,
though, and at the right time for your child.
If your child's under two years of age, it's important
that you contact your pediatrician
or pharmacist for the correct dosing.
For children old enough to be noted on the directions
of the box or the medicine bottle,
the over-the-counter medicine then
will give you recommended doses written right on the label.
It's important to not over-dress your child
when they have a high fever.
Other practices to reduce fevers, such as an alcohol bath,
ice packs, et cetera are no longer recommended,
and can actually have adverse affects on your child.
A fever will cause a child to lose fluids more quickly,
so offer plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
If breastfeeding, maybe increase the feedings
to help supplement, in order
to make sure the baby is hydrated.
Dehydration signs include crying without tears, a dry mouth,
fewer wet diapers, and even a sunken fontanel.
Keep your digital thermometer ready and accessible
so you don't have to search for it once your child is ill.
Keep the oral and rectal thermometers clean
and sanitary between uses.
Sometimes thermometer sleeves help with this process.
Now the following are some helpful hints
to keep the process smooth
during a fever situation with your child.
Have the following tips handy.
I like to print it and tape it on the inside
of the medicine cabinet for easy access.
This could also be a good idea for babysitters too.
It's important to have appropriate children's acetaminophen
or ibuprofen on hand and write the specific dosing
given by your pediatrician down.
Make sure your pediatrician's phone number is handy.
So you may be wondering, well, Roy,
when do I call the doctor?
And the following are some good guidelines
for when to call your doctor.
If your child has a fever, looks very ill,
unusually drowsy, or is very fussy.
Maybe they've been in a very hot place,
such as an overheated car or they have other symptoms.
This is probably only going to depend on
how the child communicates; but if they can tell you
they've got a stiff neck, a severe headache,
severe sore throat, severe ear pain.
If they can't talk to you, tugging and poking
at the ear is a good sign of that.
Unexplained rash, or repeated vomiting or diarrhea,
and maybe they even have signs of dehydration,
such as a dry mouth, sunken soft spot,
significantly-fewer wet diapers,
and they're not really able to take in fluids.
These are all good times to call the doctor.
Now maybe they've got an immune system problem,
such as sickle cell disease or cancer,
or they're taking steroids.
Have they had a seizure?
Are they younger than three months or 12 weeks
and have had a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit
or 38 degrees Celsius or higher?
Maybe if their fever rises above 104 degrees Fahrenheit
or 40 degrees Celsius repeatedly for a child of any age,
these would be good triggers to call your doctor.
It's important to know that other important reasons
to call your child's doctor is your child still
acts sick once their fever is brought down.
Your child seems to be getting worse.
The fever persists for more than 24 hours in a child younger
than two years of age, or the fever persists
for more than three days or 72 hours
in a child two years of age or older.
Remember if you ever feel as though your child
is having trouble breathing, has a lowered level
of consciousness or becomes unresponsive,
activate 911 or your EMS right away.
This should not be delayed, and if you're gonna
make a mistake, rule on the side of safety.
That's what EMS is for,
and it will buy you some peace of mind.