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    How To Manage A Fever

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    renaldo
    Fever is a normal response to illness that helps the body fight infection. A fever is considered a temperature above 38°C. Most fevers are caused by viral infections and will resolve on their own. Treatment for fever involves giving fluids, rest, and medication like paracetamol as needed. Children with a fever do not typically need strict temperature control and fever alone does not cause harm. Medical attention should be sought if the fever lasts more than 48 hours or other concerning symptoms develop.

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    How To Manage A Fever

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    renaldo
    31 views3 pages
    Fever is a normal response to illness that helps the body fight infection. A fever is considered a temperature above 38°C. Most fevers are caused by viral infections and will resolve on their own. Treatment for fever involves giving fluids, rest, and medication like paracetamol as needed. Children with a fever do not typically need strict temperature control and fever alone does not cause harm. Medical attention should be sought if the fever lasts more than 48 hours or other concerning symptoms develop.

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    Fever is a normal response to illness that helps the body fight infection. A fever is considered a temperature above 38°C. Most fevers are caused by viral infections and will resolve on their own. Treatment for fever involves giving fluids, rest, and medication like paracetamol as needed. Children with a fever do not typically need strict temperature control and fever alone does not cause harm. Medical attention should be sought if the fever lasts more than 48 hours or other concerning symptoms develop.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as pdf or txt
    31 views3 pages

    How To Manage A Fever

    Uploaded by

    renaldo
    Fever is a normal response to illness that helps the body fight infection. A fever is considered a temperature above 38°C. Most fevers are caused by viral infections and will resolve on their own. Treatment for fever involves giving fluids, rest, and medication like paracetamol as needed. Children with a fever do not typically need strict temperature control and fever alone does not cause harm. Medical attention should be sought if the fever lasts more than 48 hours or other concerning symptoms develop.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 3

    How to manage a fever:

    Introduction:
    Fever is a normal physiological response to illness that facilitates and accelerates recovery.
    What is a fever?
    Fever is defined as a body temperature of more than 38o C.
    What causes a fever?
    Most fevers are due to self-limiting viral infections such as colds, gastroenteritis, croup and
    bronchiolitis.
    However serious bacterial infections such as meningitis and pneumonia must be excluded.
    A fever can also occur after immunizations or bundling a child in too many clothes or
    blankets.
    How do I measure my child’s temperature?
    Body temperature should be measured in the ear (older than 6 months) using an infrared
    tympanic thermometer, or in the axilla.
    Oral and rectal routes should not be used.

     Axillary measurement:
     Do not measure temperature directly after bathing
     Ensure that the child’s axilla is dry
     Place the tip of the thermometer in the armpit and lightly press the child’s
    elbow against the chest to close the tip of the thermometer in the armpit.
     Read temperature: If digital: when the indicator sound ‘’beep” is heard
    If glass: after 3 min

    Should I treat my child’s fever?

    It is important to note how the child behaves and appears and not to use the reading of the
    temperature alone. In most cases, a child with a fever can be observed and/or treated at
    home.
    Fever is not an illness, but a beneficial response of the body to illness.
    Most fevers are of short duration and are not harmful.
    Children with fever are not at increased risk of seizures, dehydration, brain damage or
    death.
    Body Temperature during fever normally fluctuates and the fever will run its course.
    Strict control of fever is never required.

    Treatment is recommended: If the child has an underlying medical condition or if the child
    has had febrile seizures in the past.
    A fever in a child aged < 3 months is significant and should be thoroughly investigated and
    referred to a specialist care if the source of the fever cannot be found.
    If any of the signs listed in table 1 are present, please seek medical assistance.

    Treatment not recommended: A child older than 3 months who has a temperature of less
    than 390 C, who is otherwise healthy and acting normally and still eating and drinking
    normally.

    How should I treat the fever?

    1. Ensure adequate fluids. Encourage your child to drink adequate amount of fluids.
    A child with a fever may not feel hungry and it is not necessary to force them to eat.
    Offer fluids such as water, milk and Breastfeeding/formula frequently.
    2. Rest. Encourage your child to rest as much as the child wants. Children may go back
    to school when the temperature has been normal for 24 hours.
    3. Tepid sponging is not recommended.
    4. Don’t over-dress or under-dress your child, or wrap the child in heavy blankets.
    5. Medications:
     Paracetemol( Calpol panado, empaped), ibuprofen ( Nurofen,Ibumol) and
    mefenamic acid ( ponstan, Ponstel) can be used.
     Aspirin is not recommended for children under the age of 12 years.
     Combination medication should not be used. (Mypaid,Myprodol, Mybulen)
     Never measure medication using a household spoon. Please use a syringe with
    correct dose.
     Dosages should be measured carefully and giving at correct intervals.
     The medication will start to work within 1-3 hours.
     If the temperature does not come down after one dose, do not administer another
    dose immediately. Wait for the appropriate time interval.
     If the child vomits immediately after taking a dose of medicine, another dose can be
    given.
     Sleeping children should not be awakened solely to administer antipyretics.
     Dosages see table 2.
    6. Seek further medical advice if the fever doesn’t get better within 48 hours, or if the
    child condition worsens.
    Table 1. Who should be evaluated by a Doctor

    1. Infants less than 3 months with a temperature of 38oC or more


    2. Children older than 3 months who have a temp of 38oC or more for more
    than 3 days or appears ill ( refusing to drink, clingy , fussy)
    3. Signs of Dehydration
    - Dry mouth
    - Sunken fontanelle
    - Absence of tears
    - Poor overall appearance
    4. Development of a Rash
    5. The child with a seizure (fit)
    6. The child cries inconsolably or cries when you touch him/her
    7. The child stops drinking or eating
    8. The child’s urine becomes dark in colour
    9. The child’s condition gets worse
    10. The fever lasts for longer than 2 days
    11. Child travel history: Malaria area in the last 2 months
    12. Child of any age with a chronic medical condition
    13. Any child with a fever more than 40oC

    Table 2 Medicine Guidelines


    Weight Calpol/Panado Empaped Nurofen/Ibumol Ponstan/Ponstel Ponstan
    (Kg) (120mg/5ml) suppository (100mg/5ml (50mg/5ml) suppository
    3-5,9 2.5ml - 1ml 2.5ml -
    6- 7.9 3.5ml 125mg 1.5ml 2.5ml -
    8- 11.9 5ml 125mg 2.5ml 5ml 125mg
    (one)
    12- 13.9 7.5ml 250mg 3ml 7.5ml 125mg
    14-20 10ml 250mg 3.5ml 10ml -
    20-24 ½ to 1 tab - 5ml 12ml -
    24-30 1tab - 5.5ml 15ml -
    How 4 to 6 hourly 6 hourly 8 hourly 6 hourly 8 hourly
    often?

    Reference:

    1. R Green, P Jeena, S Kotze, H Lewis, D Webb.Management acute fever in children: Guideline for community health care
    providers and pharmacists.SAMJ.Dec 2013,Vol 103,No12.

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