AS a general rule, anything over 38C is a high temperature for children.
The NHS notes that having a fever is super common among young children and that their temperature tends to return to normal after three or four days.
Instagram/tinyheartseducationEx-paramedic Nikki Jurcutz gave four tips for treating your baby’s fever[/caption]
An ex-paramedic has warned that parents might be making two major mistakes when it comes to treating their little ones’ fever, which could result in deadly consequences.
If your little one has a high temperature, you should never give them aspirin to bring it down, Nikki Jurcutz from Tiny Hearts Education said.
“Remember, a fever is the body’s natural response to an infection. If your child seems otherwise well and comfortable, there is no need to treat a fever,” Nikki wrote in a recent post.
But on top of that, giving children aspirin when they’re ill with the flu or chickenpox has been linked to the development of a rare condition called Reye’s syndrome, that can be deadly or cause serious brain problems.
Symptoms of Reye’s syndrome often start one to three weeks after a child recovers from a virus, according to the NHS. Your little one may:
keep being sick
be drowsy and lack energy
feel confused
have changes in their behaviour, such as being irritable or aggressive
breathe quickly and have a fast heart rate
have fits
lose consciousness
The Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children advised that you don’t give your child aspirin before they’re 16, unless told otherwise by a doctor.
It noted that the risk of your tot developing Reye’s syndrome after giving them aspirin is ‘very small’ – but it still advised caution.
The second mistake parents might be making when their child has a temperature is giving them a cold bath or shower to try and bring the fever down, Nikki warned.
The British Red Cross said that it’s “not recommended to sponge a baby or child down to cool them” when they have a temperature.
“It is important not to cool them too quickly,” it went on.
“Putting a baby or child in a cold shower or bath would be distressing and may cause hypothermia.”
Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in body temperature below 35C, according to the NHS.
Symptoms include:
shivering
pale, cold and dry skin – skin and lips may turn blue or grey (on black or brown skin this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet)
slurred speech
slow breathing
tiredness or confusion
Babies with hypothermia might be cold to the touch, floppy, unusually quiet or sleepy and they may refuse to feed.
What can I do to treat my little one’s fever?
When it comes to taking care of your feverish little one, Nikki said the key thing is to treat their symptoms rather than the number on the thermometer.
You should focus on keeping your little one hydrated.
The ex-paramedic recommended you give your baby extra feeds, whether that’s with a bottle or breastfeeding.
You can give your little one paracetamol or ibuprofen “to help with comfort”, Nikki added.
The NHS recommended you check check the packaging or leaflet to make sure the medicine is suitable for your child, or speak to a pharmacist or GP if you’re not sure.
It also advised you look in on your child regularly throughout the night when they’re feverish and get medical advice if you’re worried.
But parents should never combine ibuprofen and paracetamol, unless a GP tells you to and they shouldn’t give paracetamol to a child younger than two months.
It’s also not advised to give ibuprofen to children under three months or weighing less than 5kg, nor should you give it to children with asthma unless it’s been recommended by a doctor.
When should I seek help?
Nikki noted five circumstances in which should seek help for your little one:
when the temperature is over 38C for babies under three months
your little one is dehydrated, not drinking has less wet nappies
your little one has a rash that doesn’t fade when you press it
they seem drowsy
they’re having seizures