Fever in children is a necessary and healthy part of every child’s growth. As a first-time parent, it’s only normal to get bothered when your kid has a fever.
For small children and newborns, a slightly elevated temperature may signal a significant illness. Although the level of fever will not specifically reveal the seriousness of the disease, any severe sickness could potentially cause an increased or a minimal fever.
There is often some confusion with regards to what constitutes a fever in children. However, in this post, you will get to understand why your kid has a fever and how to reduce it.
Causes of Fever in Children
Fever by itself is not an illness but a symptom of an underlying problem. Children tend to develop fever more easily than adults, mainly due to their relatively immature immune systems. Potential causes of fever would include the following:
- Infection: Infection such as flu, chicken-pox, cold etc., are some of the most common causes of fever in children. A child gets a fever when the body is trying to kill bacteria caused by an infection, but sometimes the fever can be too high for the body. To avoid serious infections, you need to take care of your child properly.
- Overdressing: Newborns are not able to regulate their body temperatures properly. They may get a fever if they are overdressed or are left in hot environments for long periods.
- Reactions: Children may be having a fever if their bodies react to some medications or meals. These reactions make the body vulnerable, which can cause an increased temperature and attack any part of the body such as the stomach, throat, nose, lungs, etc.
- Immunization: Immunizations given to infants help to build the immune system that fights against diseases and protects them while growing up. When the immune system is at work, kids might experience symptoms such as swelling or fever. So, if your child has a fever after immunization, do not panic because it is only normal.
Other illnesses that can cause fever in children include malaria, pneumonia, diarrhea, Tumors, and other viral infections.
Temperature in Children: When to Worry
Usually, when children experience fever, it does not affect their actions. They play, eat, drink, and perform other activities normally.
You don’t have to worry if their temperature is around 98°F, especially if they are between 3 months old to 3 years old. If your child is older than 3yrs old, it is still expected for them to have a temperature around 100°F. However, you would only need to be bothered when:
- Fever persists for more than five days:
This could be a sign of a serious illness, so you need to reach out to a doctor for an expert examination.
- An infant develops fever:
Children are young, and their immune system is not strong. So when you notice that your infant has a low temperature or a higher temperature than usual, you need to see a doctor.
- Your child is not acting fine:
Infants and older children experience difficulty with eating when they have a fever. So when you notice that your child is not acting fine, you need to visit a doctor. Other signs are if your baby wets his or her diaper more than usual or if older children easily get dehydrated.
How to Reduce Fever in Children
Not all fevers should get you rushing to the emergency room at night. However, when the body temperature in your children is over 101°F, we can term it as a high fever.
Controlling high fever in kids is important to prevent many complications in the body. Once you practise these tips below, it will help you reduce fever in your kids:
- Let them take a bath with lukewarm water.
- Give them lots of fluid.
- Check their body temperature with a thermometer within 30-minutes intervals.
- Dress them up in light clothing only.
- Avoid giving them heavy meals.
- Ensure they rest.
- Make use of fever reducers.
It is difficult to prevent fever in children. So, understanding that fever in children is a healthy immune response will keep you less worried. While you don’t have to worry much about fever, consult a doctor if the temperature does not reduce within the next 24hours.
