Your Childrens Health

Contrary to popular belief, it is now known that fevers are not the enemy. Raising the bodies temperature can give the body an advantage over the infectious agent by making conditions less conducive to its survival and reproduction. Fevers also activate the body’s immune system defences and accelerate the production of white blood cells, antibodies, and other infection-fighting agents. However, anyone who has a fever greater than 105°F (40.5°C) should seek medical attention. A High Fever may be caused by mumps, measles, meningitis, or any of a large number of other serious and not-so-serious diseases – seek medical advice.

A fever does not necessarily need to be treated. For example, if a child is playful and comfortable, drinking plenty of fluids, and able to sleep, then treatment of the fever is not likely to be helpful.

However, if the child is uncomfortable, vomiting, dehydrated, or having difficulty sleeping, then steps should be taken to reduce the fever, and also identify and treat the underlying illness.

For treatment of Fever, the goal is to bring the temperature down to below 102 degrees F, but not to eliminate the fever completely. Fever is an important part of the body’s defence infection. Cold baths or alcohol rubs cool the skin and may seem like a good idea, but they can often make the situation worse by causing shivering, which raises the body’s core temperature.

Any child less than 6 months old with a fever should be examined by a doctor immediately, in order to either rule out a serious infection or begin treatment of the infection.

People of any age who have a fever greater than 105°F (40.5°C) that wont respond to treatment should seek immediate medical attention.

Anyone who has a fever and is irritable, confused, can’t move an arm or leg, or who has had a seizure, difficulty breathing, a stiff neck, or other serious symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.

In addition, if you or your child has any of the following symptoms :
• Convulsions.
• Any persistent or abnormal pain, such as abdominal pain, ear ache, pain while urinating, etc.
• Diarrhoea or vomiting.
• Any sort of rash.
• Laboured or rapid breathing.
• Listless and tired.
• Headache, with complaints of a sore neck or if they appear confused.

then seek immediate medical advice.

In addition, the cause of the infection may be mumps, measles, meningitis, or any of a range of other serious and not-so-serious diseases, and you should seek the advice and diagnosis of a doctor as soon as possible, so that treatment can begin.

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This entry was posted on Monday, January 9th, 2006 at 8:30 pm and is filed under High Fever. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.