Due to increased exposure to viruses and bacteria and a weaker immune system, children often contract various illnesses that lead to fever. A feverish condition is one of the most common during childhood, so it is essential for parents to learn to control this condition, know its risks and know when immediate medical intervention is appropriate. If you do not want to abuse antipathetic or want to help them and make them act faster, in this article we explain in detail how to lower fever in children.
Steps to follow:
One. here are many harmless viruses that can attack a child and cause a fever, however not all cases warrant a visit to the doctor. It is recommended to call the pediatrician or go to an emergency consultation when:
- It is a baby under 3 months old and its temperature is 38 ºC or more.
- The baby is between 3 and 12 months old and his temperature is 39ºC or more.
- If it is a child older than 2 years and the fever lasts between 24 and 48 hours
- When the fever is higher than 40.5 ºC.
- In the case of presenting other symptoms such as earache, sore throat, nausea or vomiting.
- In cases in which the child suffers from chronic diseases or conditions that affect their immune system, it is recommended to consult a doctor immediately.
- You should see a specialist urgently if the child is confused, sleepy or does not wake up, if he has seizures, a stiff neck, a very severe headache or difficulty breathing.
Two. If the child has a mild fever (38 ºC), it is recommended to administer an antipyretic and monitor the child’s evolution. As long as he is upbeat, eager to play, awake and looking good, there is no reason to worry. Sometimes it is important to wait for at least 24 hours or for other symptoms to appear in order to determine whether or not it is necessary to see a doctor.
If the fever rises above 39 ºC and the child is complaining, irritable, uncomfortable and having difficulty resting, then it is advisable to take measures to reduce the fever effectively.
3. Start by putting comfortable and cool clothes on the child, preferably cotton. It is very important that you are not too warm or with many layers of clothing, as this will hinder the body’s natural process to regulate our own temperature. Do not cover the little one with many blankets either, a light blanket is enough to help him fight the possible cold.
4. To lower fever in children it is very important that the room where they rest is ventilated and cool. It is not recommended that there be a wind current in the room, but it is recommended that the air can circulate adequately to allow a better ambient temperature.
If the room is very hot, it is recommended to use a fan that is not pointed directly at the child, but that serves to make it cooler and more pleasant.
5. Once you give your little one the antipathetic, wait about half an hour and give him a warm bath or shower. This is one of the best tips to lower fever in children, as it helps regulate body temperature, relax the child and improve her general condition.
Never give your little one a cold bath, as this could cause the chills which in turn will cause the fever to rise as well. It is also not recommended to apply ice packs to the forehead.
6. Another good solution to reduce fever in children is to apply cloths moistened with cool water to the forehead, neck, wrists or forearms. This will help lower your body temperature, providing relief and cooling. It is important that the cloths are re-moistened with cold water as they heat up.
7. It is very important to keep the little one hydrated to guarantee his health, help him to replace the fluids that he may lose with the sweating of the fever and recharge his batteries. That is why you should give him fresh water, fresh juices, warm chicken broth in case he does not want to eat solid food, gelatin and even popsicles or ice cream popsicles, which due to their temperature may favor the decrease of fever.
8. Another good solution to lower fever in children is to cool their feet a bit, which will help to cool their overall body temperature. To start, avoid the little one wearing socks, which will help to maintain body heat when what we want is to dissipate it. Then you can ask him to put his feet in a container with warm water for 10 minutes, this will have an effect similar to that of a bath or a cold compress, being very beneficial.
