High temperature can kill you
FEVER is when your body’s temperature is higher than normal. It is the body’s natural response to a viral or bacterial infection. It is not a disease but rather a symptom of an illness.
FEVER is when your body’s temperature is higher than normal. It is the body’s natural response to a viral or bacterial infection. It is not a disease but rather a symptom of an illness.
Humans usually have a body temperature within a very narrow range. Normally, a child has a fever when their temperature is over 37.5ºC (when taken by a thermometer in the mouth or under the arm).
The most accurate way to take a reading is by placing a thermometer under the tongue for no less than three minutes. The most convenient way preferred, under the armpit, is usually less accurate by around half a degree centigrade lower than core temperature.
Is fever good or bad?
Raising the body temperature helps the body to fight off the infection. Fever increases the amount of interferon (a natural antiviral and anticancer substance) in the blood.
A mild fever also increases the number of white blood cells (which kill cells infected with viruses, fungi, and cancer) and improves the ability of certain white blood cells to destroy bacteria and infected cells. Fever also impairs the replication of many bacteria and viruses.
Therefore, a moderate fever is a friend, but not one you want to spend a lot of time with. So it makes sense to avoid suppressing moderate fevers with drugs, but you must monitor your child for dramatic increases in temperature and worsening of any other of his symptoms.
However, whenever body temperature increases, salt and water are lost via sweating and stores of energy and vitamins, especially the water-soluble ones, are burned up.
The body makes some minerals unavailable because bacteria need them to thrive. In terms of energy stores, our bodies switch from burning glucose (the favourite meal of bacteria) to burning protein and fat.
This means a few days of poor appetite is probably adaptive. In other words, during fevers, don’t coerce your children into eating if they don’t feel hungry; they will likely regain any lost weight quickly after the illness ends.
You do, however, need to encourage fluids, because dehydration alone can drive up fever.
Very high fevers — above 41°C — can harm the heart and brain. Fevers, especially if they are rapidly increasing, may occasionally bring about convulsions (fits) in children under five years of age.
Causes
Infections usually launch fever, especially in children. Other triggers include transfusion reactions, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, tumours, inflammatory reactions, medications (including or an overdose of aspirin), immunisations, dehydration and teething.
The most common cause of a fever is infection of, for instance, the upper respiratory tract (colds and flu), ear infections, throat infections, prolonged exposure to the sun on a hot day and malaria.
Treatment
Without medication;
If your child has a fever yet is content, eating, drinking or playing, he may not need medication.
Bundle the child in breathable fabrics so that sweat will evaporate, but make sure the child can easily remove the layers if it becomes uncomfortable. Take off the child’s clothes or dress him/her in light clothing to allow heat loss through the skin.
Use a light blanket if he feels cold or is shivering.
Give your child a sponge bath with lukewarm water only (no cold water) if fever is higher than 38°C and does not decrease 30-60 minutes after medication is given. Never leave the child alone in the bathtub. Stop the sponge bath if your child starts to shiver. Never use alcohol sponging. Alcohol can cool your child too quickly and be absorbed through the skin, causing alcohol poisoning.
Fan the child to reduce its body heat
Try to keep your child quiet — activity increases body temperature.
Give your child extra fluids to prevent dehydration or extra loss of water (water, iced drinks, juices, or whatever he will drink). Kids with fever often do not feel thirsty, or by the time they do, they are already dehydrated. So keep offering fluids. Small, frequent sips are often best, especially if the child feels nauseated.
Don’t push food. People with fevers generally don’t have much appetite. Let your child determine when and what she eats. Just bear in mind that consumption of sugary foods could delay the natural immune response.
With medications
Medication is only needed to make your child more comfortable
Give Panadol or Nurofen but ask the doctor for the correct dose. You need to know if the patient has been on other medications which contain paracetamol to ensure the total dose per day is accurately estimated.
It is risky to administering paracetamol to young children who are dehydrated and/or malnourished. Do not use Aspirin for fever (it has been related to a serious illness, Reye’s Syndrome)
Medication is a must for fever if the child gets seizures.
However, a combination of all these is more effective. Temperatures below 39°C are generally not dangerous — try to get the temperature down and if after 48 hours there is no reduction, seek a doctor’s help. A fever above 39°C should be taken more seriously. If high temperatures persist, seek medical advice.
High temperature is not usually a sign of malaria. It is a symptom of so many diseases. It is therefore important that you seek proper investigation.
When do you need to see a doctor?
If your child is very young (six months or younger)
If your child has an earache, difficulty in swallowing, has fast breathing, has a rash, is vomiting or has neck stiffness.
If your child’s fever is 38.9°C or higher.
If the fever persists
Compiled by Hillary Bainemigisha
Humans usually have a body temperature within a very narrow range. Normally, a child has a fever when their temperature is over 37.5ºC (when taken by a thermometer in the mouth or under the arm).
The most accurate way to take a reading is by placing a thermometer under the tongue for no less than three minutes. The most convenient way preferred, under the armpit, is usually less accurate by around half a degree centigrade lower than core temperature.
Is fever good or bad?
Raising the body temperature helps the body to fight off the infection. Fever increases the amount of interferon (a natural antiviral and anticancer substance) in the blood.
A mild fever also increases the number of white blood cells (which kill cells infected with viruses, fungi, and cancer) and improves the ability of certain white blood cells to destroy bacteria and infected cells. Fever also impairs the replication of many bacteria and viruses.
Therefore, a moderate fever is a friend, but not one you want to spend a lot of time with. So it makes sense to avoid suppressing moderate fevers with drugs, but you must monitor your child for dramatic increases in temperature and worsening of any other of his symptoms.
However, whenever body temperature increases, salt and water are lost via sweating and stores of energy and vitamins, especially the water-soluble ones, are burned up.
The body makes some minerals unavailable because bacteria need them to thrive. In terms of energy stores, our bodies switch from burning glucose (the favourite meal of bacteria) to burning protein and fat.
This means a few days of poor appetite is probably adaptive. In other words, during fevers, don’t coerce your children into eating if they don’t feel hungry; they will likely regain any lost weight quickly after the illness ends.
You do, however, need to encourage fluids, because dehydration alone can drive up fever.
Very high fevers — above 41°C — can harm the heart and brain. Fevers, especially if they are rapidly increasing, may occasionally bring about convulsions (fits) in children under five years of age.
Causes
Infections usually launch fever, especially in children. Other triggers include transfusion reactions, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, tumours, inflammatory reactions, medications (including or an overdose of aspirin), immunisations, dehydration and teething.
The most common cause of a fever is infection of, for instance, the upper respiratory tract (colds and flu), ear infections, throat infections, prolonged exposure to the sun on a hot day and malaria.
Treatment
Without medication;
With medications
Medication is only needed to make your child more comfortable
Give Panadol or Nurofen but ask the doctor for the correct dose. You need to know if the patient has been on other medications which contain paracetamol to ensure the total dose per day is accurately estimated.
It is risky to administering paracetamol to young children who are dehydrated and/or malnourished. Do not use Aspirin for fever (it has been related to a serious illness, Reye’s Syndrome)
Medication is a must for fever if the child gets seizures.
However, a combination of all these is more effective. Temperatures below 39°C are generally not dangerous — try to get the temperature down and if after 48 hours there is no reduction, seek a doctor’s help. A fever above 39°C should be taken more seriously. If high temperatures persist, seek medical advice.
High temperature is not usually a sign of malaria. It is a symptom of so many diseases. It is therefore important that you seek proper investigation.
When do you need to see a doctor?
Compiled by Hillary Bainemigisha