Fever and Febrile Illnesses
When children have a fever, it may be stressful, but it is important to know that fever itself is not dangerous. If they behave normally, you do not have to give them antipyretic (fever reducing) medicine. If they do not feel well and have other symptoms, try helping them by providing suitable treatment.
Usually, when we say "fever" we mean a high temperature. Increasing body temperature is the body’s way of coping with harmful viruses and bacteria. Usually, febrile illnesses in children are mild but if they involve other symptoms, it may indicate a condition that warrants medical attention.
What is considered a normal body temperature
The average normal body temperature is 37 degrees. This is an average, meaning that for some the norm is 37.4 and for others maybe a little less.
Conditions that may change the body temperature
Certain conditions can affect the normal (average) body temperature of children:
Hot weather
The body temperature increases when you are outside and sweating.
Cold weather
Cold dilates blood vessels, meaning that we will see flushed cheeks. This is a sign that the body is self-regulating according to the new temperature.
Illness
When a bacterium or virus invades the body, it causes the temperature to increase – the body heats itself, constricts blood vessels in the skin and makes the skin look pale, which is usually a sign of fever.
Important
Important
Extreme high temperature, for example, when a child is forgotten in a vehicle, may be lethal
Temperature below 36 degrees
Small infants sometimes have difficulty regulating their body temperature. This means that a temperature below 36 degrees may be a sign of illness. If your infant has a temperature of less than 36 degrees, it is necessary to heat them using additional clothing, covering them with a blanket and holding them close to the body. It is also worth checking that the temperature in the room is 22-23 degrees.
Important: at any age, if heating the room and the child does not improve the child's condition, the body temperature does not start to increase and the child looks ill, it is necessary to seek medical attention.
High temperature of more than 38 degrees – when to seek medical attention
Fever is commonly defined as a temperature of more than 38 degrees, but it is important to emphasize that if a child looks normal and does not complain of a certain pain, no special care or medication for reducing the temperature is required.
- Until the age of two months: fever is the only sign that infants show at this age that may indicate a significant illness, so seeking immediate medical attention is necessary, by going to a hospital emergency room or other emergency medicine clinic. To get an emergency room referral, you can call the hotline of your HMO, 24 hours a day. If the infant’s temperature at this age exceeds 38.5 degrees, you can go without any referral.
- From two months to one year’s age: at this age, the infant’s condition should also be considered. If the infant drinks and behaves normally, you can wait a day or two and see whether the fever resolves. If the fever does not resolve, it is advised to seek medical attention.
- At any age: if your child has significant symptoms such as breathing difficulties, apathy (extreme indifference to extrinsic events), it is necessary to seek medical attention. If you are concerned in any case, you can consult the nurse hotline of your HMO.
Signs that require immediate medical attention
If you child looks poorly, has a fever, unwilling to drink and looks apathetic, it is necessary to give them antipyretic (fever reducing) medicine and assess the behavior. If the child does not regain the normal composure after taking the medicine, it is important to bring him or her for examination at an emergency medicine clinic as soon as possible. Additional signs to which you should pay attention:
- If the infant looks sicker than before, paler than usual, exhausted or weaker.
- If the infant has breathing difficulty.
- If the infant is drowsier than usual.
- Less frequent urination, such as 6 hours without any urination.
- If the infant suffers from constant vomiting of frequent diarrhea episodes.
- If there are no signs of improvement 48 hours after the onset of illness.
Treatment with antipyretic (fever reducing) medication
Antipyretic products do not treat disease but relieve symptoms, and that is their sole purpose. Therefore, if a child behaves normally and does not appear to be suffering, or complains of pain, it is not necessary to administer an antipyretic. If the child does not feel well and has other symptoms, it is worth relieving him or her by providing an antipyretic product. Read more about antipyretic products