Now in the peak of the flu season, you can often see the scene in the hospital: the baby forehead with a striking “fever patches”, parents anxious to tell the doctor that the baby fever, but a consultation, the baby fever how many degrees? The answer is not measured, feel good hot or 37.9 degrees …… Indeed, the baby fever suddenly, the poop is anxious like ants on a hot pot, how to correctly handle the baby fever, this is a lesson that every baby parents must learn.
The determination of fever
Fever is a very common symptom in children, as the body temperature exceeds the high limit of the normal range. The criteria for determining body temperature are different at different ages, in different environments and in different states. In feeding, after meals, exercise, crying, too much wrapping or high room temperature, there may be a brief increase in body temperature, up to 37.5 degrees or even higher, but at this time the baby’s general condition is good, no other symptoms, especially in newborns, the development of the brain thermoregulatory center is not mature, sometimes the body temperature is higher than 37 ℃, but in 37.5 ℃ or less, is still a normal body temperature. Normal pediatric axillary body temperature is 36.5 ~ 37 ℃ (anal table measured body temperature than the oral table about 0.3-0.5 ℃, the oral table measured body temperature than the axillary table about 0.4 ℃), axillary table such as more than 37.4 ℃ can be considered fever.
Response to 38.5℃ or less
In most cases, fever is a protective response to the body’s battle with invading pathogens and is a process by which the body is activating the immune system to fight infection. An abnormal increase in body temperature is not necessarily proportional to the severity of the illness. The duration, peak fever and accompanying symptoms may vary depending on the cause of the fever.
If mom and dad insist on reducing the fever for the baby regardless of whether the baby has a fever or the temperature of the fever, it weakens the baby’s resistance instead. Generally speaking, if the baby’s body temperature is below 38.5℃, and he or she is not particularly uncomfortable and in good spirits, that is, eating, sleeping and playing as usual, there is no need to rush to use antipyretic drugs, but to help reduce the discomfort of fever by drinking more water and physically cooling the baby. Folk often believe that fever requires “sweating”, but as doctors, we do not advocate “sweating”, as it is not easy to disperse heat and may aggravate the fever. Therefore, it is recommended to wear less clothes and open the baby’s diaper if possible to help dissipate the heat. In addition, some babies may feel cold and uncomfortable when they have a fever, so mothers and fathers should pay special attention in caring for them. The baby should be allowed to rest fully, not too much manipulation and stimulation, mainly physical cooling, generally without antipyretic drugs, including antipyretic suppositories, antipyretic patches, etc. Only those who have had febrile convulsions or with cold extremities can use antipyretic drugs, pay attention to the use of the interval of more than 4-6 hours.
Physical cooling method a: cold compresses, ice, cold water pillow, or a warm bath.
When the baby’s body temperature of 38.5 ℃, the cold water released from the tap water soaked towel cold compresses or ice packs on the forehead, both sides of the neck, can also be placed in the armpits and bilateral groin areas; homemade ice bags can be filled with crushed ice into a fresh plastic bag, plus the right amount of cold water, press out the air, the bag mouth tied. You can also make your own cold water pillow, with hot water bags or plastic gloves into cold water or ice water as a pillow, tie the opening, let the baby sleep on the pillow, which helps the baby’s local heat reduction fever. But be sure to pay attention to the need to wrap a layer of cloth outside the ice bag to prevent local frostbite baby’s skin. Babies who are cold and afraid of cold are not suitable for ice packs and cold compresses, and can take warm baths.
Ice, ice pillow is only suitable for slightly older babies, and for babies within 6 months can be used cold water compresses, and timely access to the hospital, does not advocate the use of drugs.
Physical cooling method two: wet and warm compresses
Warm and wet compress is also a good method, that is, with warm and wet semi-dry large towel on the baby’s head and neck, but pay attention to the room temperature to avoid getting cold. In addition, you can also use a few slightly cool wet towel (about 25 ℃) wrung semi-dry, placed on the baby’s forehead, neck, armpits and thighs for cold compresses, every 5-7 minutes to change once, the baby will feel very comfortable. Take a warm bath is also possible.
At about 38.5℃-39℃, the following physical cooling methods can be taken first at home. At the same time, you can moderate the use of antipyretic drugs, to use one drug at a time as a principle, in order to reduce the baby’s discomfort, and prevent the baby from high fever convulsions. Do not rush to bring down the body temperature as soon as it can be receded 1-2 degrees. Due to the different causes of the disease, after the initial treatment of the baby’s acute fever, it is recommended to take the baby to the hospital for a check-up during normal working hours.
Oral medication.
It can help reduce fever and avoid high fever convulsions, and fever-induced discomfort and psychological concerns of parents. However, note that for some people with high fever, they only play a temporary role in reducing fever, with a duration of 4-8 hours, and should not be used repeatedly, otherwise it may lead to low white blood cells, which may lead to other diseases.
Topical medications.
If your baby refuses oral medication, a fever-reducing suppository is the best option. This suppository is inserted through the anus and is absorbed mainly by the rectum, which has a relatively rapid effect. But be careful: the use of antipyretic suppositories its strong antipyretic effect, easy to reduce fever excessively, resulting in a steep drop in body temperature, and also easy to cause diarrhea in babies after repeated stimulation of the anus by the drug. Emphasize not to use together with other antipyretic drugs.
Physical cooling method three: soak in a warm bath
For high body temperature (39 ℃ or more), irritable baby, soak in a warm bath (water temperature of about 36 ℃ ~ 38 ℃) and warm water bath is the most appropriate cooling method. Let the baby’s body (except the head) soak in water slightly below the feverish body temperature of 2 ℃, while using a wet towel in the limbs and front chest and back up and down evenly rubbed, so that the skin surface of the blood vessels dilate to promote the distribution of heat. Each of the limbs and back rubbing bath 3 to 5 minutes, rubbing to the armpits, groin and other vascular rich places stay a little longer.
Response to body temperature over 40℃
If your baby’s fever does not subside after the above treatment, or if the body temperature exceeds 40℃, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately to ensure your baby’s safety.
Baby poopers, please remember that what is provided here is the emergency treatment for fever in general. Since there are more possible causes of fever in babies, if the fever lasts for more than three days, you must go to the hospital to find out the cause. Also remind that if your baby has a fever at night, but the temperature is not high or has just started to get fever, it is recommended to deal with it on your own first and then promptly seek medical attention the next day. Do not rush to take your baby to the doctor at night, as it is not enough for emergency conditions and waiting too long in the hospital maybe infected with other diseases by other patients.