Appearance:
In many cases, children develop a fever when their immune system is dealing with an infection. It is a sign that your child has to deal with something (still unknown). That is why fever is important and useful, because it supports the maturation of the immune system in the long term. Under certain circumstances (see below), fever should also be allowed. Children grow from it.
Take the temperature in your child's bottom during the first twelve months of life. From then on, ear thermometers are also possible.
A measurement above 38°C in the first three months or above 38.5°C from the fourth month of life is considered a fever.
Measures:
- Give enough to drink
- Bed rest
- Offer gentle food (low fat). But it is not a problem if your child has no appetite
- Antipyretic agents can be used from a temperature of 39°C onwards
- Non-drug measures (e.g., calf compresses) can also be very helpful and reduce fever (See Health wrap)
- Give a lot of attention
- Regularly ventilate the room briefly
- School/kindergarten/daycare may be attended again when the child has been fever-free for at least 24 hours and is fit enough to participate
Report to docter if:
- Infants under three months of age with a fever of 38°C or more.
- Shortness of breath with too fast or strained breathing
- If the child has a headache with sensitivity to light, sensitivity to touch, or stiff neck
- If the child is listless and apathetic, even if the fever has dropped
- If fever persists for more than 2 days, even if no other accompanying symptoms are present