One of the biggest challenges throughout motherhood is fever in children. We may have one, two, or three children, but it will always keep us up at night; we will never be 100% prepared to face it. It appears unexpectedly, without warning, and suddenly knocks our little ones down, ending any energy and play.

But fever in children is a natural and inevitable process that will repeat itself countless times throughout life. It is a sign that something is wrong in the child’s body, and the best thing to do is for the mother to stay as calm as possible and observe every sign.

Temperature That Indicates Fever

A temperature above 37 degrees Celsius is considered a low-grade fever or slight fever, and it is considered a fever when it is above 37.8 degrees Celsius. When above this, you should be alert and take appropriate care so that the temperature does not rise further, which could cause a febrile seizure.

Fever occurs as a sign that some bacteria, virus, or fungus is invading the body and the rise in temperature is capable of killing some of these invaders. Therefore, its presence is part of this fight and can help resolve the problem.

When to Worry About Childhood Fever

It is recommended that parents observe every sign and the child’s behavior during the fever period. A child may have a fever of 38.2 degrees but still be playing, eating, and acting normally. This is a sign that the body itself is fighting the infection, so there is less reason to worry.

But if the child has a fever and is visibly listless, weak, and crying, you should be more concerned, as some types of infection cause more discomfort and, in some cases, pain. Therefore, if the symptoms do not go away with medication, you should seek medical advice.

When to Go to the Emergency Room

Another reason to go to the emergency room is in case of a fever above 39.5 degrees Celsius, remembering that all other symptoms that are noticed should be described to the pediatrician for an accurate diagnosis. There are symptoms that appear together with fever that may indicate a more serious problem, such as red spots that appear due to a bacterial infection. These spots are easily seen and do not fade when pressed at the spot; they may also appear as larger, red patches.

Fever Due to Pneumonia

Another common condition that causes fever in children is pneumonia. The child appears tired, with difficulty breathing and very shortness of breath along with a fever that can present itself more quietly or, in some cases, with very high fever.

Remember that emergency services or emergency rooms should only be sought in case of emergency and extreme necessity. In these places, we end up exposing children to various viruses and bacteria, which can cause even more health problems because their immunity is low at this time.

How to Control Fever

To combat fever, the use of antipyretics such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, and dipyrone is recommended; they should be given according to the dosage prescribed by the doctor and only if truly necessary. Warm, comfortable, and relaxing baths can help control body temperature.

Use a thermometer to help measure and control the child’s fever, so you can act appropriately in each case and check whether the medication is working or if the temperature is still rising.

Risks of Very High Fever

In the case of extremely high temperature, the child may have a febrile seizure, suddenly turn pale, the lower muscles and organs become stiff, there may be twitching, or even loss of consciousness.

What to Do in Case of a Seizure

Usually, it is a frightening experience for parents who witness such a scene, but the recommendation is to hold the child so that they do not hurt themselves with the movements until the crisis passes. Preferably, the child should be placed on their side so they do not choke on saliva.

Febrile seizures usually last on average 20 seconds and should only be a cause for concern if they last more than 4 minutes and do not stop. In this case, a hospital should be sought immediately. If your little one experienced this, don’t worry—febrile seizures do not cause lasting effects.

Usually, children who have febrile seizures are children of parents who also experienced this in their childhood. The good news is that it usually occurs only once in life, most commonly in children aged 6 months to 6 years old.

See also: How to Lower Children’s Fever?

Photo: Caitlin Regan, Smile Shake

_ Caixa de Informações Chave:

  1. One of the biggest challenges throughout motherhood is fever in children. We may have one, two, or three children, but it will always keep us up at night; we will never be 100% prepared to face it.
  2. A temperature above 37 degrees Celsius is considered a low-grade fever or slight fever, and it is considered a fever when it is above 37.8 degrees Celsius.
  3. It is recommended that parents observe every sign and the child’s behavior during the fever period.
  4. Another reason to go to the emergency room is in case of a fever above 39.5 degrees Celsius, remembering that all other symptoms that are noticed should be described to the pediatrician.
  5. To combat fever, the use of antipyretics such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, and dipyrone is recommended; they should be given according to the dosage prescribed by the doctor and only if truly necessary.