When a child has a fever, parents are often very nervous, especially about “burning their brains out”. But first, parents may want to understand the premise that fever is a symptom, not a disease, but a defense mechanism for the body to fight infection. Fever is usually caused by a bacterial infection. Generally speaking, fever itself is harmless, which is an indication that the immune system is fighting off germs. With fever, it is more important to look for the cause. Below, we will talk about the criteria for fever, how it is measured, various responses, and questions parents often ask. What are the criteria for fever? Normal human body temperature varies somewhat depending on age, health status, activity level and time of day. Infants tend to have a higher body temperature than older children. Throughout the day, a person’s body temperature is relatively high between the afternoon and evening, and relatively low at midnight and early morning. The amount of clothing worn can also affect body temperature. The average normal body temperature for a person is 37 °C, and the normal body temperature range is 36.4 to 37.5 °C. A fever is defined as a higher than normal body temperature. Rectal, ear or forehead temperature: ≥ 38.0 ℃ is considered feverish. Oral temperature: ≥ 37.8 ℃ is considered feverish. Axillary temperature: ≥ 37.2 ℃ is considered feverish. How is body temperature measured? The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend the use of mercury thermometers for children to prevent accidental injury and poisoning. We recommend using a variety of electronic thermometers to measure your child’s body temperature. What are the signs of fever? When a child has a fever, he or she may feel hot, have a red face, sweat more than usual, and be more thirsty than usual. Most illnesses that cause fever may have accompanying symptoms such as earache, sore throat, and rash. These symptoms provide important clues to finding the cause of the fever. Some children cry when they have a fever, but this is usually not caused by the fever itself. Frequent crying with fever may be due to pain, such as ear infections, sore throat, meningitis, and some other hidden causes. Can fever burn the brain? Normal fever does not cause brain or nervous system damage. However, if the germs that cause fever also enter the brain and cause encephalitis or meningitis, it may lead to neurological damage. Therefore, unless a fever of 41 ℃ or higher persists, it is the germs that enter the brain that “burn the brain”, not the symptom of fever. How to take antipyretics? When a child has a fever, he or she usually needs fever-reducing medicine. For babies between 0 and 3 years old, the main antipyretic drugs used are Tylenol and Merlin, the difference between them mainly lies in the composition. The ingredient of Merlin is ibuprofen, while the ingredient of Tylenol is acetaminophen. Merlin is more effective in dealing with high fevers above 39°C. It is strong and fast in reducing fever. If the child has a high fever in the middle of the night, or if there is no way to do the situation of eating first and then taking medicine, it is still better to take medicine to reduce the fever first. 37.5℃～38.5℃ or so, and the fever does not go down after 30-60 minutes, you can also choose to use Tylenol. How to do physical cooling? The purpose of reducing fever is to make the child a little more comfortable. If the child’s temperature is in a low fever state, the mother can first observe, not necessarily using cooling medication, but can first reduce the clothes on the child a little, or ventilate him properly if he is in a stuffy environment. In addition, using warm water to wet a towel to wipe his forehead and whole body is also a good way to assist in cooling. The best way to physically cool the baby is to scrub with warm water or put the baby in the bath with room temperature water, this way, the baby will feel comfortable while cooling. Can alcohol wipe and ice pack reduce fever? Alcohol rubbing bath and ice pack applied externally will not reduce fever and may cause chills. The skin of small babies is delicate and permeable, and alcohol may be absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream, which can cause harm to the child. Can fever-reducing patches be used for children? This type of physical cooling may be effective in reducing fever, but the child may be very uncomfortable. When should I see a doctor? 1. a child under 3 months of age with fever; 2. a child with fever accompanied by changes in mental status such as lethargy or unresponsiveness; 3. a child who is not eating, has a rash or has difficulty breathing; 4. a child with fever accompanied by signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, sunken fontanelle or a significant decrease in urine output; 5. a fever lasting more than 72 hours; 6. a fever accompanied by convulsions.