Simple Ways To Cure Fever In Kids

Kids

oi-Gowri Nandini

By Nandhini Devi

Friday, August 5, 2011, 15:20

A constant change in the weather conditions brings along problems like cold, cough and fever in most of us. Children are worst effected by these harsh and inconsistent weather conditions. Small children who have just started school, fall sick more frequently as they get exposed to many other factors. Traveling to school on dust filled roads, sharing food at school and irregular eating habits are some of the causes for fever in kids.

Along with cold and cough, kids are also effected by fever. Fever is a condition when the body's temperature elevates beyond the normal set point. This normal temperature can range between 91.8–100.8 °F. It can vary a little from one individual to another. In children, the temperature range remains almost same. If your child's body temperature raises above 100.8 °F, it calls for attention.

However, in every case of fever, you need not have to meet your kid's pediatrician. Only if the fever does not come to normal range within 48 hours, consult a doctor. The prescribed medicine for fever is normally kept in family's with kids. So, with the help of these regular prescribed medicines and your care, you can cure fever in kids.

Simple ways to cure fever in kids;

1.Check for symptoms of fever. No regular bowel movements, loss of appetite and cranky behavior are common symptoms in a kid, who might catch a fever.

2.Usually the kids hands and feet feel warmer than usual when he gets affected by fever. Take the temperature using a clinical thermometer. You can use a rectal (bum), oral (mouth), axillary (armpit), temporal artery (forehead) or tympanic (ear) thermometers to note the temperature. The rectal, oral or axillary methods give the accurate temperature.

3.If the temperature is above 101 °F, then you have to take care.

4.First, remove all extra clothing on the child. Clad him with light and loose fitting clothes. Make sure that the place is not too stuffy. Give a normal dose of the prescribed medicine, usually a paracetamol suspension.

5.If the temperature is too high (somewhere around 102-103 °F), first concentrate upon reducing the body's temperature. Dip a loose fitting shirt in warm water, squeeze it well. Let the child wear this shirt for a few minutes, this will automatically bring down the temperature. Once the temperature has come down, clad him with a dry loose fitting shirt. Then give a dose of regular medication.

6.Regularly check the temperature. The medicinal dose has to repeated once in 4 – 6 hours depending on the raise in temperature, but it should not exceed 5 doses in 24 hours.

7.Feed the child with soups and soft freshly prepared food. Home-made idli, soups and rice with soft vegetables are some of the foods that are easy to digest.

8.Pamper your kid, as this is the best method to cure sick kids. Read him stories, play games and make him feel very comfortable. Shower him with all your love.

If you notice that the temperature is not coming down within an hour or two, after consumption of medicine, consult your doctor. If you notice any rashes, or weird behavior or other unnatural changes in the child, consult your pediatrician immediately.