TEMPERATURES IN CHILDREN
If your child has a high temperature (fever) then it is important to
manage their care properly and see a doctor if a child does not improve
soon, or has any worrying symptom
What causes high temperatures?
- Viral infections are the common cause. Virus infections cause many
common illnesses such as colds, coughs, flu, diarrhoea, etc. Sometimes
virus infections cause more serious illnesses
- Bacterial infections are less common than viral infections, but
also cause high temperatures. Bacteria are more likely to cause serious
illness such as pneumonia and meningitis
- Other types of infection are uncommon causes of a high temperature
in the UK
What should I do?
- Give paracetamol or ibuprofen. You can buy these in liquid form
for children. They come in various brand names. An alternative is
to give soluble paracetamol in a drink
- Take the clothes off the child if the room is normal room temperature.
IT IS WRONG TO WRAP UP A FEVERISH CHILD
- Give lots of cool drinks. This helps to lower the temperature and
prevents dehydration
- Do not cold-sponge a child who has a high temperature. This used
to be popular, but it is now not advised. This is because the blood
vessels under the skin may become narrower (constrict) if the water
is too cold. This reduces the heat lost from the body, and can trap
heat in deeper parts of the body. The child may then get worse. Many
children also find cold-sponging uncomfortable
- Some people use a fan to cool a child. Again, this may not be a
good idea if the fanned air is too cold. However, a gentle flow of
air in a room which is room temperature may be helpful. Perhaps just
open the window, or use a fan on the other side of the room to keep
the air circulating
What should I look out for?
A child with a high temperature may look quite unwell. He or she may
be flushed and irritable. However, most bouts of high temperature
are not caused by serious illness, and the temperature often comes
down quickly. It is quite common to see a child happily playing an
hour or so later when their temperature has come down. They will
not be entirely back to normal, but it is reassuring if a child improves
with the drop in temperature. As a rule, a child with a serious infection
will usually become worse, and more ill, despite efforts to bring
their temperature down. In addition, they may have other worrying
symptoms. For example, breathing problems, drowsiness, convulsions,
pains, or headaches which become worse despite paracetamol or ibuprofen
Source: Adapted with permission from a © document supplied by EMIS and PIP
NHS
Direct 0845 46 47 www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
