A child’s fever is an inevitable bump in the road for all parents of all walks of life. A child’s fever is something that is going to happen, eventually. In children’s CPR classes, it is helpful to cover this information so parents know what is going on and when it is serious. It is common enough that I thought I’d cover it in this article. Fortunately, a child’s fever isn’t often serious.
As much as we love our children and want to protect and shelter them, they need to get out of the house, and so do we. In the wide world outside the confines of our homes, we come into contact with all kinds of bacteria, much of which is actually important for our bodies to function. We meet relatives, friends and unfortunately, eventually, bacteria that we don’t need or want gets in. Yes, then our children get sick.
Why Do Kids Get Fevers?
A child’s fever is a weapon the body has at its disposal that it can use to fight off sickness and prevent infections from getting worse. The child’s fever is simply an increase in the body’s temperature that can help in accomplishing a few goals.
A few of the ways a child’s fever helps the body are included in the following:
- The body can more effectively ramp up it’s response to infection with a higher temperature
- Many infectious bacteria die in a hotter environment
- Many bacteria can’t reproduce when the body’s temperature is elevated
Our hypothalamus is a small node in the base of the brain near where our brains connect with our spinal chords. The hypothalamus controls important automatic functions of the body such as hunger, thirst, fatigue and quite importantly, temperature. When our bodies detect the growth of unwanted bacteria in our systems, our hypothalamus is alerted and steps into action.
This sounds strange, but when the hypothalamus is aware of an attack by unwanted bacteria, it tells our body that we are cold. The body in response shivers, tightens muscles and literally feels like it needs to warm up; and yes it does. Shivering, tightening muscles, increased heart rate and blood pressure increases the body’s temperature.
As a child’s fever is increasing, the child will think they are cold and seek to warm up, despite the fact that they feel hot. Quite remarkable, yes?
As the fever subsides, the child will feel like they are hot as their hypothalamus tells them to cool down. They then get the cool sweats. Even though they are cool, they are sweating to loose more heat.
So the swings between burning up and feeling like we are freezing is that hypothalamus, taking the nasty bacteria over a roller coaster of temperature most of them can’t survive. Good hypothalamus.
Serious Fevers
Once in a while a fever isn’t a good thing.
There may be an infection present that is causing your child’s fever that will need professional medical help.
Call The Doctor When…
Call the doctor or seek emergency care if an infant, younger than 3 months, has a fever that is over 100.4 (F). An infant’s fever may indicate a serious infection.
Call the doctor if an older child’s fever is lower, less than 102.2°F (39°C) but also shows the following symptoms:
- refuses to drink or is too sick to drink
- has persistent diarrhea or vomiting
- has any signs of dehydration (peeing less than usual, not having tears when crying, less alert and active)
- has a sore throat or earache or other specific complaint
- still has a fever after 24 hours (in kids younger than 2 years) or 72 hours (in kids 2 years or older)
- has recurrent fevers, even if they only last a few hours each night
- has a chronic medical problem such as heart disease, cancer, lupus, or sickle cell anemia
- has a rash
- has pain while urinating
Seek Emergency Care When…
Sometimes a child’s fever is quite serious and needs emergency care. Get emergency care for your child if they show any of these signs:
- inconsolable crying or are extreme irritable
- lethargy and trouble waking
- rash or purple spots that look like bruises on the skin (that were not there before the child got sick)
- blue lips, tongue, or nails
- infant’s soft spot on the head seems to be bulging outward or sunken inwards
- stiff neck
- severe headache
- limpness or refusal to move
- difficulty breathing that doesn’t get better when the nose is cleared
- leaning forward and drooling
- seizure
- abdominal pain
Fortunately, most often a child’s fever is not serious.
While children are sick, there are a few simple things to make them feel better.
As far as medicine, I always refer to your pediatrician to recommend their preference in fever reducing drugs.
Comfort Tips
Here are some other tips that you can use to help your little one feel better:
- Dress the child in lighter clothes or cover with light blanket
- Make sure the temperature of their room isn’t too hot or too cold
- While parents often like to use sponge baths, there’s no evidence that it actually works to lower a fever AND it makes the child miserable, which makes parents miserable :-(
- NEVER USE AN ALCOHOL SPONGE BATH – let this one just fade away
- Offer the child plenty of liquids to drink but nothing with caffeine. Caffeine makes them pee more, and dehydrates them
- If they have diarrhea too, you can ask your pediatrician about giving them an electrolyte that is just for them. Don’t use sports drinks because they are too sweet, which makes diarrhea worse
- If the child also has diarrhea, limit their fruit, fruit juice and certainly other sugars. Sugar can make diarrhea worse
Children will eventually get sick and have a fever. Hopefully your child’s fever will be in the “not so-serious” category. May we all stay healthy and when we can’t, stay informed.