Symptoms
In infants and young children, fever manifests itself as an elevated body temperature that can usually be felt on the skin. Possible accompanying symptoms include lassitude, irritability, loss of appetite, pain, shiny eyes, and red skin. Fever can be both harmless and an expression of a serious illness that can lead to dangerous complications (e.g., blood poisoning).
Causes
Fever is not a disease but a nonspecific symptom that can have numerous causes. Fever in infants and young children is often caused by infectious diseases. Measured rectally, fever is usually said to be present from a temperature of 38.0°C. Possible causes include, for example (selection):
- Childhood diseases, such as three-day fever.
- Flu, cold
- Teething (temperature)
- Inflammations
- Overheating (hyperthermia)
- Allergy
- Otitis media, pneumonia, bacterial meningitis.
- Medication
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is made in pediatric care based on patient history, parental interview, clinical examination and laboratory methods, among others, and is challenging because of the multiple causes. The physician should be consulted for (selection):
- High fever
- Long duration (> 3 days)
- No response to the treatment measures
- Concomitant complaints
- Poor general condition, e.g. pale skin, respiratory disorders, hyperventilation, lethargy, rapid pulse.
- Bacterial infections
- Newborns
Non-drug treatment
- Give enough to drink, e.g. tea, water.
- Special attention
- Bed rest as needed
- Offer easily digestible food
- Rectal temperature check with a digital thermometer, possibly note the temperature, date and time.
- Adapted, not too warm clothes
- Envelopes (not ice cold), wraps, calf wraps.
Drug treatment
Treatment is based on the cause (eg, antibiotics for bacterial infection). Various antipyretic agents are available for symptomatic drug treatment. They are mainly administered in the form of suppositories, as drops and syrups. Some drugs are also available without a doctor’s prescription.
- Paracetamol (eg Acetalgin, Dafalgan, Panadol) is antipyretic and analgesic and should be used from our point of view because of the better tolerability as the means of 1st choice.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (eg Algifor Junior) and diclofenac (Voltaren drops) have antipyretic, analgesic and additional anti-inflammatory properties.
- Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) is not recommended because of the possible adverse effects.
All antipyretic agents are additionally effective against pain. During treatment, the dose (by body weight), the dosing interval (interval between doses) and the maximum daily dose must be carefully observed to avoid overdose. The effects of the medication do not occur immediately, but after half an hour to an hour. Alternative medicine: e.g., Similasan Fever, Viburcol, Aconitum, Belladonna, Ferrum phosphoricum, Chamomilla, Schuessler salts (No. 3).
