FEVER IN CHILDREN

Fever In Children

A person is known as having fever if his or her temperature rises beyond normal levels. Normal
human body temperature varies slightly among individuals. It ranges from 98 to 99 degrees
Fahrenheit. It also varies according to where temperature is being recorded. Temperature is
higher by 1 degree Fahrenheit when taken from the rectum than when taken from other body
parts or zones, like mouth or armpits. For example, a 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit temperature
taken from the mouth will register at 99.6 degrees Fahrenheit if taken rectally.

Doctors affirm that a person has fever if his or her temperature rises beyond 99.4 degrees
Fahrenheit taken orally or 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit taken rectally. Among children, checking
the temperature is done rectally for infants and orally or children aged over four years old.
Infants below three months old need urgent medical attention when body temperature reaches
100.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The same emergency situation applies to children above three
months old when their body temperature breaches 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

Thermometers are used to read body temperature. Digital thermometers have been known to
yield more precise temperature readings than mercury thermometers. Moreover, mercury as a
chemical compound contains toxin and has been tagged as an environmental hazard. It poses
health risks to those who come in contact with it. Parents also need to be cautious in using
thermometers. Some of them are designed solely for oral use, while others are designed solely
for rectal use.

Parents should oversee the entire procedure of temperature reading. They need to guide
children especially when they are holding the thermometer themselves. Children often drop the
device even before it beeps to indicate that temperature reading has been recorded. Also,
infants should not be tightly bundled when he or she is examined for body temperature. Rectal
reading may bring about pain to some infants; this can be prevented by applying petroleum jelly
to the tip of the thermometer before it is used. Only half of it should be inserted, and with care,
into the rectum. Somebody must hold the thermometer steadily until it beeps. It must be
cleansed with disinfectant, soap and water after its use.

Fever is one of the signs noticeable to us when our anti-bodies are trying to ward off infection.
Medication is needed when a child with fever complains of all sorts of body aches. A number of
off-the-counter drugs can come in handy, taking into account the child's weight, age and specific
needs. The medicines include Ibuprofen, Tylenol for kids and Acetaminophen. Each of these
medicines has its own prescribed dosage that can apply to any child's condition, and parents
should make sure that pertinent instructions are understood and carried out. A physician must
always be consulted whenever there are doubts on how these procedures must be undertaken.
When administered before taking a bath using lukewarm water, acetaminophen can fever down.
Bathing without acetaminophen can induce the child to shiver. It can also cause body
temperature to rise again. Alcohol products are not recommended for use while bathing.
Children are susceptible to a serious ailment known as Reye's Syndrome when they take
aspirin, particularly when fever is associated with flue or chicken pox. Aspirin therefore is to be
avoided.

No drug can be given in excess of five doses per day. Dosage that makes use of droppers must
be applied with the liquid filling only up to the designated line. Measuring devices like caps that
go along with drugs in liquid form are helpful. In fact parents would be well advised to buy these
caps from nearby drug stores if none is available. Unless a doctor says otherwise, infants below
four months must not be given drugs under any condition.

There are symptoms associated with fever that require immediate response and for which a
doctor's advice is necessary. They include rapid body temperature changes, dry mouth,
behavioral changes, ear-ache, vomiting and frequent diarrhea, seizures, skin rashes, paleness,
sore throat, intense headaches, irritability, swollen joints, stiff neck, crying at a high pitch, lack of
appetite or inability to feel hungry, stomach ache, wheezing, whimpering, breathing difficulties
and limpness.

Clothing made of cotton and fitting loosely helps the afflicted child to breath easily while it
absorbs the heat effectively. Taking fluids frequently also helps particularly in preventing
dehydration.