2023-11-22 23:00:00
This is a sign that the body “gets to know” different pathogens and defends itself against them.
How does fever actually occur?
If pathogens penetrate our body, the immune system is activated. The released messenger substances send the heat regulation center in the brain a command to increase the body temperature. With this strategy, our organism tries to defend itself against the “uninvited guests”.
How can I take my temperature?
Methods such as ear or forehead temperature measurement are faster, easier to use and more pleasant for children, but are often prone to errors, which is why it is not uncommon for significant deviations in the measured values to occur.
Rectal temperature measurement in infants and small children is therefore considered the gold standard.
When does my child have a fever?
If the body temperature rises above 38 ° Celsius (ideally measured rectally), this is called fever.
What can I do for my child at home?
The most important thing is careful observation in order to be able to quickly recognize changes in the condition and take them seriously. In addition to rest and attention, it is important that sufficient fluids are offered. Tried-and-tested home remedies such as calf wraps or “vinegar patches” can help reduce fever, but should only be used on children over the age of two, with lukewarm water and warm feet, but not if they have chills or are not in a fever.
When should I reduce fever?
Basically, there is no scientifically confirmed increase in body temperature above which you should necessarily reduce fever. The main focus should be on the child’s general well-being.
So if the fever causes a significant impairment (the child appears irritated, cannot fall asleep, wakes up from sleep with a fever, or is so tired and exhausted due to the fever that it does not drink enough…), this can be an important guideline for decision-making be.
Suitable medications include paracetamol (Mexalen®, Ben-u-ron®), ibuprofen (Nureflex®) and metamizole (Novalgin®).
It is recommended to always have at least two different classes of active ingredients on hand, which can be administered alternately without any concerns. Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin®) should under no circumstances be given.
What is a febrile seizure?
A febrile seizure is an occasional seizure resulting from a fever-related overload of stimuli in the immature brain, coupled with an innate tendency towards it. Febrile cramps are usually without consequences and end within a few minutes (less than 5 minutes).
Reducing the fever early cannot prevent a febrile seizure. In the event of such an event, remain calm, place the child in a soft place where it cannot fall, dial 144 and request medical attention.
After a febrile seizure, a medical assessment is essential for the next steps.
When should I get medical help?
This is always a case-by-case decision. It is understandably unsettling when your child is perceived to have changed due to the rise in temperature. A queasy feeling quickly arises when the children suddenly don’t appear lively and full of life as usual.
In the vast majority of cases, however, it is banal infections that are responsible for the fever, which subside very quickly, so that improvement can be observed again after a short time. Only rarely is there a serious illness behind it.
If a visit to the doctor is unavoidable, fever-reducing medication should be administered in advance. The feared falsification of the diagnosis is ruled out.
In certain cases, medical advice is absolutely and urgently required:
if the child is younger than 12 months and has a high fever (more than 39 °Celsius) if the general condition is severely impaired if there is a loss of consciousness, apathy or seizures if the child has a very high fever (more than 40 °Celsius) and can hardly be reduced if the fever lasts more than three days persists with a persistent refusal to drink with persistent vomiting and watery diarrhea with a stiff neck so that the child can hardly bend its head forward with accompanying severe headache symptoms with the additional appearance of a skin rash that cannot be pushed away with noticeably rapid breathing or shortness of breath if the child expresses severe, inexplicable pain with severe abdominal pain so that the child hardly moves, pulls up its legs or the abdominal wall is tense and painful
The above list of “alarm symptoms” cannot be cited in its entirety.
Rather, it is important to always look at the whole thing. Parents should always trust their instincts.
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