Parenting A Sick Child: How To Treat Fever

Does your child have a fever? It usually means that your kid has an infection. Such high temperature during a fever is caused by the immune system trying to make the body more hostile to certain germs.

However, high temperature can become dangerous if left unchecked. Knowing how to treat fever can help reduce the temperature and give some comfort to the child. PARENTS posted some important tips on how to treat fever.

1. Focus on how the child is feeling and not just on the temperature.

There are certain cases when a child who has a high temperature is acting normally and feels alright. Parents should not try to bring down the temperature if this is the case.

There are also some cases that involve a child with a seemingly normal temperature but feeling very feverish. Checking the temperature with a thermometer every two to four hours is recommended.

2. Use Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen for a child's fever.

If the child is not feeling okay and has high temperature, Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen are recommended. Make sure to check carefully all of the instructions especially the correct dosage. However, consulting a doctor if your baby is under three-months-old should always be a must and a priority. Never self-medicate as it could do more harm than good.

3. Give a healthy and well-balanced diet.

Children with fever usually have poor appetite. However, they need plenty of nutrition to fight off the infection. Giving healthy and nutritious meals despite the child's poor appetite is recommended.

4. Give plenty of water.

Children with fever usually sweat more than usual. It might also be accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting. Because of these symptoms, parents need to make sure that their children are drinking plenty of water to prevent dehydration.

5. Apply lukewarm compress.

Applying a lukewarm compress on the child's trunk, arms, legs and forehead can help bring down the temperature. Using a soft washcloth for the compress actually helps.

6. Know when to call a doctor.

"Call the doctor if your baby is from 0 to 3 months and has a fever of 100.4°F or higher; your 4- to 6-month-old has a temperature of 102°F or higher; or your child older than 6 months has a fever of 103°F or higher," PARENTS advised.

Parents should also call a doctor if their child (two years old and below) has a body temperature of 100.4°F for more than one day already. For children that are two-years-old and above, they should be taken to the doctor if their fever lasts for more than three days.

According to Kids Health, parents should also call a doctor if their kid with fever has repeated and lasting vomiting and diarrhea, dehydration, rashes, painful urination, bruises, stiff neck, severe headache, breathing difficulties, drooling, stomach pain and seizures.

Hopefully, these tips on how to treat fever can help parents take good care of their sick children. Share your thoughts and experiences on how you deal with your feverish child. We'd love to hear from you!