How to Reduce Fever in Children

There are many harmless viruses that can attack a child and lead to fever, not all cases warrant a visit to the doctor. It is recommended you call the Doctor or go to A&E when:

• The baby is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38°C or more.
• The baby is between 3 and 12 months and has a temperature of 39°C or more.
• If the child is over 2 years old and the fever lasts between 24 and 48 hours
• When the fever is over 40.5°C.
• In the case of other symptoms such as ear pain, sore throat, nausea or vomiting.
• In cases where the child has a chronic illness or conditions that affect its immune system you should consult a doctor immediately.
• You must consult a specialist urgently if the child is confused, sleepy or does not wake up or if it has seizures, a stiff neck, severe headache or difficulty breathing.

If your child has a mild fever (38°C) it is recommended he or she take some antipyretics and that you monitor the development of the condition. As long as your little one is lively, wanting to play, stay awake and with a good physical appearance there is no reason to worry. Sometimes it is best to wait at least 24 hours to elapse or for other symptoms to emerge to then decide whether to go to the doctor or not.

If the fever is 39°C or more and the child is whining, irritable, uncomfortable and struggles to relax then additional measures should be taken to tackle the fever effectively.

Start by putting comfortable clothing on the child, preferably cotton items. It is very important that he or she is not too warm or has many layers of clothing as this will hinder the natural process of the body to regulate its own temperature. Neither should you cover the child with too many blankets, just a light blanket to help combat any possible cold.

To reduce fever in children it is very important that they rest in a ventilated and cool room. It is recommended that there be air circulating properly in the room to allow for a better environmental temperature.

If the room is very warm use a fan but do not aim it at the child, it should serve to make the room nice and cool.

Once you give the antipyretic to the child wait half an hour and then give him or her a bath or shower with warm water. This is one of the best tips to reduce fever in children, helping to regulate body temperature and relax the child will improve his or her overall condition.

Never give the little one a bath in cold water as this may cause chills which in turn will also increase the fever. Nor is recommended to apply ice packs on the forehead.

Another good solution to reduce fever in children is to apply on the forehead, neck, wrists or forearms a cloth moistened with fresh water. This will help reduce body temperature, providing relief and a fresh feeling. It is important that the cloth be moistened with cool water again as it becomes heated.

It is very important to keep the child hydrated to ensure its good health and so help replace the fluids that may be lost with the fever's sweating and to recharge his or her energy. You must administer fresh water, fresh juices, warm chicken broth if the child does not want to eat solid foods, gelatin and even ice-lollies as the cold temperature of this last item may favour the lowering of the fever.

Another good solution to reduce fever in children is to cool off their feet, this will help refresh their overall body temperature. To begin stop the little one from wearing socks as these only help maintain body heat at a moment when we want to lower it. Then you can ask him or her to place their feet in a bowl of warm water for 10 minutes, this will have a similar effect to the bath or cool compress actions that are so beneficial.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to How to Reduce Fever in Children, we recommend you visit our Family health category.