Healthy children have a body temperature between 36.5 and 37.5 degrees Celsius (°C). At values between 37.6 and 38.5°C, the temperature is elevated. Doctors then speak of fever in children from 38.5°C. From a temperature of 39°C, a child has a high fever. At temperatures above 41.5°C, it becomes life-threatening because the body’s own proteins are destroyed.
Nevertheless, fever is not a disease, but a protective reaction. With the increase in temperature, the body mobilizes its defenses to fight unwanted pathogens. This is because bacteria and viruses do not like high body temperatures, which makes it harder for them to multiply.
A fever in children can be recognized by the fact that the face is red and hot, but the skin is pale and cool. Some children seem absent-minded and sleepy, while others become whiny or do not want to eat.
How do you measure a fever?
When and why should fever be treated?
Since fever is a natural defense mechanism of the body, you should not treat it immediately with fever-reducing measures.
If possible, fever in children should be treated with antipyretics only when the temperature exceeds 39°C (measured in the buttocks) and in exceptional cases (e.g., when the child suffers a lot from the fever and seems increasingly exhausted).
Babies with high fever are usually tired, fatigued and show a general feeling of illness. They usually feel much better after fever-reducing measures. In addition, infants are at risk of febrile convulsions, which is why early fever reduction is recommended, especially for children at risk. As a general rule, parents of children under three months of age should consult a doctor as soon as the temperature reaches 38°C and discuss fever-reducing measures with him or her.
How can fever be lowered?
There are two ways to reduce fever: by non-drug measures and by fever-reducing drugs.
Non-drug measures:
For warm legs, calf wraps can also provide cooling: Dip cotton cloths in lukewarm water (about 20 degrees, which is a few degrees cooler than the child’s body temperature), wring them out gently, and then wrap them around the child’s calves. Then put another dry cloth around each calf and a woolen cloth over it. The evaporation of water will provide cooling and increased heat release. Leave the calf wraps on until they feel warm to the body (this takes about 15 to 20 minutes), then remove them. Once the calves are warm again, you can make another wrap.
The child should drink a lot (tea, juice, water), preferably something every half hour.
Give him easily digestible food such as stewed fruit. However, if he does not like to eat, do not force him to do so.
Make sure that the child rests (bed rest), even if the fever has gone down and the little patient wants to play. Make sure that the child takes a break every now and then.
Check the temperature regularly, especially if the child is still small or has a high fever. However, you should not wake him up to do this.
Antipyretics for children are available in the form of juice, suppositories, drops and tablets. They usually also have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects (e.g. ibuprofen). Administer fever-reducing medications to your child as directed by a doctor.
Caution: Never give acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) to young children! This painkiller and fever reducer can possibly cause a rare liver-brain disease, Reye’s syndrome, which can be fatal.
