Parenting Article:

What to do if Your Child Has a Fever

By: Cathryn Curtin

What Is a Fever?
A fever is when the body's temperature is higher than normal due to an infection. A normal temperature is under 38 degrees Celsius.

What Causes Fever?
A fever is a sign of infection in the body. Infections, usually due to viruses or bacteria, cause a rise in body temperature. The fever is a way in which the body fights infection. A fever is not dangerous and does not always mean that your child has a serious illness.

The body responds to fever by increasing heart rate, breathing rate and blood circulation to the skin, in an attempt to reduce body heat. A child with a fever will feel hot and will look flushed. There may or may not be specific signs of the associated infection.

How Is Infection Treated?
Usually, the infection is caused by a virus and antibiotics do not help viral infections. If the infection is bacterial it can be treated with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor.

What to do if Your Child Has a Fever
If your child seems well and is happy there is no need to treat a fever.

• You can make your child more comfortable by:
• Dressing your child in light clothing.
• Giving your child frequent drinks (clear fluid, preferably water).
• Giving paracetamol (for example, Panadol, Dymadon, Tempra) if the fever is making your child irritable. Give paracetamol in the correct dose up to every four hours, but not more than four doses in 24 hours. Do not give regular paracetamol medicine for more than 24 hours.
• Keeping your child cool.
• If your child is three months or younger, take them to your doctor.

You may wonder if you should give your child a cold bath or sponge your child with cold water. Do not do this. Cold water cools the skin and makes children shiver, but the body temperature still stays high.

What Is a Febrile Convulsion?
Sometimes a fever can lead to a convulsion. About three per cent of young children will have a febrile convulsion at some time. Convulsions are not dangerous. But it is important to know what a convulsion is, just in case your child has one.

Convulsions are also known as fits or seizures. A convulsion is when a child suddenly jerks or twitches, may appear to have difficulty breathing, and becomes unconscious. After a convulsion, the child will be sleepy for a while, and then return to normal. Most fevers will not cause a febrile convulsion.

A convulsion can be a frightening experience for parents, but it is important to remember that your child will not be harmed. Convulsions will not cause brain damage, epilepsy or death.

Cathryn Curtin is a qualified nurse, midwife and maternal and child health nurse specialising in assisting women during pregnancy, birth and parenting.  She has over 32 years experience.  Cathryn saw the need for families to have one on one support due to early discharge from hospital and ongoing support during the first few years of parenting.

Cathryn and her team aim to provide individual care of the woman post birth. Cathryn's expertise is in breast feeding, sleep and settling, support to women with Post Natal Depression, general parenting, family coaching and support. Cathryn can be contacted for consultation on www.cathryncurtin.com.au or consulting@cathryncurtin.com.au.

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