How to Reduce Fever in Children?

When your child is sick and running a fever, you want to do everything in your power to help them feel better. Fever in babies and children should not be left unattended as it can increase the risk of serious complications. In this article, you will learn how to reduce fever in children.

Understanding Fever in Children:

Fever is when your child’s body temperature is higher than normal. It is easy to detect their temperature using a reliable forehead thermometer or other types of thermometers, such as rectal or oral thermometers, for precise readings.

Fever in children is not always a cause for concern. It can be caused by various factors, such as viral infections like the common cold and flu, or bacterial infections like tonsillitis or ear infections.

It is also common for a fever to develop as a normal part of growth, as children are exposed to more viruses than adults. However, a high fever above 38°C can be dangerous for babies under 3 months and young children under 5 years who are not fully vaccinated against whooping cough.

Tips to Reduce a Child’s Fever:

Mild fever is not a serious condition and usually does not require treatment unless other worrisome symptoms are present. If your child has a fever and does not exhibit any concerning symptoms, you can help them feel better and reduce their temperature with the following tips:

• Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids like water or fruit juice without caffeine or alcohol. This will help replace fluids lost due to sweating and vomiting. Avoid giving them milk and other dairy products as they can worsen diarrhea.
• Ensure your child eats nutritious and easily digestible foods while recovering from an illness. Avoid spicy foods, as they may worsen the symptoms. The following suggestions can help your child feel better: chicken noodle soup or saltine crackers.
• If your child has a bathtub, let them sit in warm (not cold) water for a maximum of 10 minutes. Make sure your child doesn’t get chilled by staying in the water too long or getting out too quickly after they’re done.
• If you have an ice pack, place it on your child’s forehead and neck for 5 minutes at a time, then remove it and wait about 10 minutes before reapplying if necessary. Never put ice directly on the skin as it can cause frostbite or hypothermia instead of reducing their temperature.
• Use a cool mist vaporizer to reduce your child’s temperature and make them more comfortable. Place a towel over the vaporizer while it’s running to prevent the room from becoming too cold. If you’re using an electric humidifier, ensure it has a safety feature that turns it off if there’s no water in the reservoir or if someone accidentally trips over the cord and breaks it.
• Distract your child with fun activities. Often, children enjoy playing and coloring when they are sick as it helps them feel better. Ensure your child gets enough rest and drinks plenty of fluids to aid in a quicker recovery.

If after trying these home remedies, the fever persists or if your child has a high fever for more than 24 hours, or if they experience other symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, call the doctor to have them examined promptly.