Burning up

Here’s what to do if your child has a fever.

Just about every childhood illness is associated with a fever. A fever (or high temperature) in a baby or child is considered to be any reading that is above the normal body temperature of between 36.9°C and 37.8°C. In a way, a ”fever-alert” is a good thing because it tells parents and childminders that something is wrong – especially in young children and babies. Monitoring and controlling a fever is very important, because if left to run its course, it could lead to a febrile convulsion. These are rarely a danger to life, but are cause for concern and should be taken seriously, says Sister Burgie Ireland. Although you don’t need to panic every time your baby has a temperature, you do need to have some guideline as to when it’s important to take your child to the emergency room, when to phone the doctor or when to simply watch the symptoms for a day or two and see whether your child recovers on his own. For the most part, children get sick very quickly, run a fever and – just as quickly – recover. This generally means an efficient immune system that quickly responds to a ”bug alert”, then creates and dispatches appropriate anti-bodies to kill the germs. Sometimes though, fevers are serious, and a prompt response will prevent complications. Follow the suggested guide (on the opposite page), but above all, trust your instincts! Parents know their child better than any text book or magazine. If alarm bells are ringing, get help – prevention is always better than cure. When your child has a fever, it’s important to take the following into account:

■ Age

■ An accurate temperature reading

■ Behaviour

■ Appearance

■ Response to treatment

■ Circumstances.

Buy a reliable and accurate thermometer. These range from battery-operated underarm thermometers to fancier versions that register the temperature through the ear canal. If you don’t have a thermometer, touching your baby’s upper back will tell you if he’s warm or not.

If your baby has any of the symptoms described in the brown block, don’t leave him with a sitter, and see your doctor before you go on holiday. If symptoms are like those described in the orange block, make sure you that you’re readily contactable (depending on the reliability of the babysitter!). If it’s Monday and most of the symptoms fall into the orange category, the chances are that baby will recover without any treatment, but if it’s Friday, don’t take a chance and leave it.

It is better to make an appointment with your regular doctor than to have to see a new one over the weekend. ●