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Every parent has experienced this scenario – in the middle of the night, crying coming from the children's room, and a hand placed on the forehead reveals a fever. What should you do? The answer, of course, depends on the situation, the child's age, the degree of fever, and accompanying symptoms.
When it comes to children without underlying medical conditions, who are generally in good health, there is no need to administer fever-reducing medication if the fever is below 38.5 degrees Celsius. If the fever rises above 38.5 degrees, it is advisable to start giving fever-reducing medication, which can be combined with lukewarm baths to help the body naturally lower the temperature. Even if the fever is not very high but is accompanied by symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches, chills, irritability, or similar issues, treatment should be considered.
Infants under 3 months old with a fever exceeding 38 degrees must be examined promptly by a doctor or in a triage room. In older children, a referral to a triage room or contacting a medical hotline is necessary if the fever rises above 41 degrees. If a child appears very ill, it's crucial to see a doctor immediately, even if their fever is not very high. Children with previous medical issues such as heart problems, respiratory issues, or chronic diseases should consult a doctor each time a fever occurs. In relatively rare cases, fever may be accompanied by seizures, resembling convulsions in different body parts. These fever-related seizures are usually harmless by themselves, but if they occur for the first time, a treating physician should be consulted to rule out other causes.
Additionally, seeking a doctor's advice is crucial when fever is accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms:
Fever by itself does not require treatment because it helps the immune system fight inflammation. However, if a child is irritable or uncomfortable due to the fever, it is advisable to take steps to reduce it.
In any case of fever, increasing fluid intake is essential. Also, try to remove layers of clothing to allow the body to cool down through the skin. Infants should not be bundled up when they have a fever, and for older children, a light blanket is sufficient.
In pharmacies and supermarkets, various over-the-counter fever-reducing and pain-relieving medications are available. These medications, which do not require a prescription, can include ibuprofen-based drugs (such as Acamol and Novimol) or paracetamol-based drugs (marketed under names like Nurofen or Advil). It is essential to note that infants under six months of age should not be given ibuprofen without a doctor's prescription.
It is crucial to follow dosage instructions strictly until receiving different guidance from a healthcare professional. Pain relievers come in the form of syrup, tablets, or suppositories (candles). Suppositories are especially useful when dealing with children who refuse to take medicine orally, but it's important to remember not to split suppositories and sometimes to administer a lower dose than the recommended one due to the uniform size of suppositories.
Cold water, alcohol, or vinegar should not be used to reduce fever.
As mentioned, in rare cases, children may develop fever-related seizures. These seizures can be frightening but are usually simple and not dangerous. Common signs of a simple fever-related seizure include:
Most fever-related illnesses are viral and typically last two to three days, although some may persist for up to a week. If your child has a bacterial infection and has been prescribed antibiotics by a doctor, improvement is usually noticeable within 48 hours.
In the body, infections have two main sources: viruses and bacteria. Viruses and bacteria are very different organisms, and their actions against our bodies are entirely separate. A virus usually affects the entire body and causes general discomfort (such as runny nose, cough, fatigue, and fever) without a specific focus. On the other hand, bacteria tend to concentrate in specific areas (resulting in a sore throat, earache, pain during urination, etc.). Antibiotics are medications that work exclusively against bacteria. While most childhood illnesses are viral and usually resolve on their own within a few days, antibiotics do not affect them. Furthermore, using antibiotics without a proper diagnosis and prescription from a doctor is problematic and can lead to various issues.
Diagnosing the difference between a virus and a bacterial infection is done by a doctor through physical examination, medical history, and sometimes additional laboratory tests. If the answer is that indeed there is a bacterial infection in the body, the guidance will be to start antibiotic treatment. It's essential to emphasize completing the entire prescribed course of antibiotics, even if the symptoms of the disease have already subsided, to prevent their recurrence.
In general, fever is an expression of the immune system's response to an inflammatory process in the body. The body has a temperature-regulating center (located in the hypothalamus in the brain) that occasionally causes an elevation in body temperature beyond the normal range (which hovers around 37 degrees Celsius). Researchers believe this temperature rise is the body's way of combating invaders, as it makes the environment less hospitable for them. Fever likely plays an essential role in supporting the immune system's fight against inflammation.
It's important to know that fever itself, if it is below 41.7 degrees Celsius, is not dangerous and does not cause harm. Since fever indicates an inflammatory process occurring in the body, it's essential to determine the severity of the inflammation and where it developed within the body.
Fever manifests differently in every child. Some children may have a high fever but continue to behave normally, being active and cheerful, while others with a relatively low fever may react strongly to it. Typically, fever causes discomfort, and a child will exhibit symptoms such as sweating, shivering, headaches, muscle aches, loss of appetite, and irritability. Common symptoms of a feverish illness include earaches, sore throats, nausea, or diarrhea as reactions to the fever.
When a child has a fever, their heart rate and breathing rate will also increase. Children with fever tend to lose fluids, putting them at risk of dehydration.
Leumit offers an online nighttime service with a pediatrician's consultation. The service is available when medical centers are closed, during nights, weekends, and holidays, allowing you to consult with a pediatrician from the comfort of your home. Click the link to schedule an online pediatric consultation or for more information about TytoCare, a home medical examination device.
