Children easily get ill due to their developing immune system. Among all the common illnesses, fever is the most concerning for parents. A warm forehead, tiredness, reduced appetite, or a high reading on the thermometer makes parents immediately take action.
New Delhi, as a hub for children’s healthcare services due to its highly advanced hospitals and trained doctors, is a popular choice for seeking professional paediatricians. Searching “pediatrician near me” and consulting the experts will help you understand your child’s fever’s underlying issue.
What is Considered a Fever in Children?
A temperature higher than the normal temperature of children is considered a fever; for example, 38°C (100.4°F) or a higher temperature is a fever.
Body temperature varies depending on the age, activity, time of day, and how the temperature is measured. If you are measuring your child’s body temperature, use a digital thermometer rather than feeling the child’s forehead.
What Causes Fever in Children?
There are several reasons for fever in children; the most common is infection. Viral infections such as colds and flu frequently cause fever in children, while bacterial infections also lead to a high temperature.
Most possible causes of fever are:
- Ear infections
- Throat infections
- Respiratory infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Stomach or intestinal infections
- Chickenpox and other childhood infections
- Some vaccinations
- Less commonly, inflammatory or other medical conditions
To find the right cause, the doctor will assess all the symptoms and do further evaluation.
What Symptoms Can Occur Along With Fever?
During the fever, children don’t just feel warm, sweaty, thirsty, and flushed; instead, there can be other symptoms, such as:
- Cough or runny nose
- Sore throat
- Ear pain
- Headache
- Body aches
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Reduced appetite
- Rash
- Chills or shivering
- Tiredness or irritability
You need to notice the exact symptoms your child is going through, because only by assessing them can a doctor diagnose and treat the fever.
When Can Fever Usually Be Managed at Home?
If there are no warning signs, then you can manage your child’s fever at home. To manage the fever, parents need to encourage frequent fluid intake in children, continue breastfeeding if the child is breastfed, offer food if the child wants to eat, allow the child to rest, check on the child regularly, and monitor temperature and other symptoms.
Can Children Take Medicine for Fever?
Yes, children can take doctor-prescribed fever-reducing medications. However, don’t give your child any medicines without a consultation with your doctor.
Paracetamol or ibuprofen may be appropriate for some children, but they are not suitable for every child. Moreover, parents should avoid giving aspirin to children under 16 unless specifically prescribed.
When Should Parents Be Concerned About Fever?
Parents should be concerned about fevers if a baby has them, or if the temperature is significantly higher. If your child is unusually sleepy, weak, or difficult to comfort, you need to seek medical help.
If a fever is getting worse, is accompanied by vomiting or diarrhoea, has ear pain or a severe sore throat, develops an unexplained rash, has difficulty breathing, etc., then you should take your child to a paediatrician.
Fever in Babies Under 3 Months
Fevers in young babies require different attention. A baby younger than 3 months with a temperature of 100.4 F or higher should receive prompt medical assessment. Parents must not wait for additional symptoms to appear before seeking medical help.
What Should Parents Avoid Doing?
Many parents tend to think they can manage their child’s fever at home. However, they should learn that not every traditional method is good for children.
Hence, parents should avoid giving aspirin and antibiotics to younger children without a prescription. Parents must not overdress or heavily cover the child, or use cold water, ice and other cooling methods.
Instead, parents can search for “childrens dr near me” in New Delhi to seek medical help from expert paediatricians.
The Cloudnine Advantage
Cloudnine provides paediatric healthcare services for children from infancy through adolescence. Its paediatric services include consultations, growth monitoring, management of common childhood illnesses, vaccination and immunisation services, neonatal care, and paediatric intensive care when required.
If your child has a fever, getting them assessed at Cloudnine will be helpful.
Conclusion
Fever is among the most common illnesses children go through. A low rise in body temperature is not concerning, but if the temperature is high and accompanied by other symptoms, then parents should take the child to a doctor.
If you are a resident of New Delhi, searching for “pediatrician near me” will help you find professionals like those at Cloudnine. When unsure about our child’s illness, consulting a professional is better than a home remedy!
