Stop fever in children

Obinwannem News Stop fever in children

Stop fever in children

Dr. Sandra Nnamani

Children with relatively high fevers may not look or act sick. Treating a fever depends on the degree of discomfort.

If your child is uncomfortable or restless, these home care strategies may help:

Encourage your child to drink fluids like water.
Dress your child in lightweight clothing.
Use a light blanket if your child feels chilled, until the chills end.

Don’t give aspirin to children or teenagers.

Don’t give an infant any type of pain reliever until after you’ve contacted a doctor and your child has been evaluated.

If your child is 6 months old or older, give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Read the label carefully for proper dosing.

If your baby is less than 3 months old and has a fever, it’s important to get medical help immediately.

Seek medical care if a child of any age shows any of the following:

Fussiness, or acting abnormally, which doesn’t improve even after taking medications to bring down the fever.

Signs and symptoms of dehydration, such as no wet diapers over eight to 10 hours, crying without tears, a dry mouth or refusing to drink any fluids, stiff neck or a headache, abdominal pain, difficulty in breathing, Rashes, Joint pain or swelling. Also, get medical help if the fever lasts more than five days in a row.

Treating fever in an adult:

Adults with fevers of 103 F (39.4 C) or higher will generally look and act sick. The main goal of treatment is to relieve discomfort and help you get rest.

To treat a fever at home; Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
Dress in lightweight clothing.
Use a light blanket if you feel chilled, until the chills end.

Take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others). Follow the directions on the label

When to seek medical advice for an adult:

Seek medical care if someone with a fever has any of the following signs and symptoms:

Difficulty breathing
Chest pain
Severe headache
Confusion or agitation
Abdominal pain
Repeated vomiting
Dry mouth, decreased or dark urine, or refusal to drink fluids, which may indicate dehydration
Skin rashes
Difficulty swallowing fluids
Pain with urination or pain in the back

When to seek emergency care:

Seek emergency medical care if your child has a fever after being left in a hot car or involved in another such potentially dangerous situation and shows any of these warning signs:

Fever with no sweating
Severe headache
Seizures
Stiff neck
Confusion
Repeated vomiting or diarrhea
Irritability or significant discomfort.
Any worrisome, different or unusual symptoms.

Vladimir Chimaobi Ugwu reporting, Obinwannem News

leave a reply

WP Radio
WP Radio
OFFLINE LIVE