Fever is not a disease but is a symptom. A fever occurs when the immune system is being fought against the infection. In medical terms, a person called suffered a fever if the body temperature reached 37.5 degrees Celsius or more.
The most quick, precise, and easy to find out if your child is a fever is by checking the temperature of his body. Body temperature checks carried out using the thermometer. Do not rely on the rabaan hand to measure fever. The child's temperature could have been higher than expected.
The condition of the fever itself actually has a function and benefits on the body. With the rise in body temperature, will make germs cause infection are uncomfortable being in the body of the child.
The fever will occur more frequently in infants aged six months to five years. This is due to a mild viral infection such as the flu or colds, that can be treated on its own.
Causes Of Fever In Children
- Respiratory tract infections: can be caused by bacteria or viruses. Ranging from colds, flu, and sore throat.
- Ear infections.
- Tonsillitis
- Side effects of immunization.
- Sinusitis.
- Roseola virus.
- Diarrhea due to contaminated food (gastroentritis).
- Kidney infection.
- Whooping cough.
- Dysentery.
- Typhoid.
- Chicken pox.
- Dengue fever.
- Malaria.
- A urinary tract infection.
- Pneumonia: inflammation in the lungs caused by an infection.
- Meningitis or inflammation of the protective membranes of the brain.
- Septicemia or blood infection.
- The environment is hot and wearing clothes that are too thick or layered.
High body temperature makes bacteria and viruses cause infection difficult to survive.
SYMPTOMS
The body is considered to have a fever when it passes the normal body temperature limit, 37.5 degrees Celsius. Sometimes there are other symptoms that accompany the fever, such as sweating, trembling, headache, muscle pain, loss of appetite, dehydration, and the body feels weak.
Fever in children is a normal body reaction against infections. But fever can be dangerous if accompanied by complications.
The Right Time Seeking Medical Help
The following are some of the symptoms that occur together with a fever and is worth to look out for:
- The child's body became limp and awareness far more diminished.
- Be sensitive to bright light.
- The reaction was less responsive.
- More often it was difficult to sleep and was awakened.
- Experiencing confusion.
- Experiencing interruptions in breathing.
- Experiencing symptoms such as dehydration is rarely urinate, crying without tears coming out, and a little sweaty despite the hot air.
- Vomiting accompanied by headaches or neck feels stiff.
- The inside of the lips or skin pallor or starting to turn blue.
- Experiencing pain on the inside of the ear.
- Abdominal pain or pain when urinating.
- Experienced seizures.
- High fever accompanied by a rash.
- Experienced vomiting or diarrhea that is sustainable and failed to subside.
- Swelling of the throat.
If your child is aged 0-6 months old with a fever of 38 degrees Celsius or more, should immediately be brought to the doctor for review. For children over 6 months, should be brought to the doctor if the fever has suffered more than 24 hours.
Treatment Of Fever In Children
If the child is experiencing fever, make sure they drink plenty of water which is kinda cool. Although when the child is not thirsty, try to have them drink a little by little. The fever will make children lose fluids more quickly so that the risk to be exposed to any higher dehydration. Avoid drinks that contain caffeine because it can cause dehydration.
Drugs-lowering fevers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen can be given to children in a fever. But, always follow the instructions and rules of use as written on the packaging. Age, height and weight of the child will determine the required dose for children. The drug is given in order to make your child feel more comfortable and quiet.
Keep the aspirin from the children. Aspirin can cause Reye's syndrome, a side effect that is a fatal disease that affects the brain and the heart.
The following are other steps to overcome the fever in children:
- Make sure the temperature of the room is quite good. Provide a thin shirt so that body heat can get out.
- Always check the temperature of the body of a child on a regular basis. Use the thermometer and don't rely on rabaan hands.
- Create an environment that is as comfortable as possible for your child can rest. Make sure he gets enough rest. Children will usually fussy when was having a fever.
- Compress with plain water or a bit cooler.
- Make sure your child does not feel the cold or the heat. Cover with a blanket to taste.
- Give foods that are easy to digest and preferred your child. But still select foods that nourish the body.
- Give appropriate doses and medication rules of life. Ask the doctor if you hesitate and do not combine drugs without knowing the content and rules of life.
Fever in children can cause some complications if not treated properly. It is very important for finding and evaluating other symptoms that appear along with the fever. The following are the complications that can occur due to a fever:
- Severe dehydration.
- Hallucinations.
- Convulsions.
- Serious diseases that are not detected and turned into severe stages.