Remedies to lower a fever in a child
When a young child has a fever and it is not accompanied by severe symptoms, we can use these remedies to lower his temperature.
It is very common in parents, especially first-timers: they notice that the child has a fever and they begin to lose their cool. The first reaction is to rush him to the emergency room, but in most cases this is not necessary. The best thing is to stay calm and think about how to help the child feel better.
Therefore, it is important to know what fever really is and why the body produces it. A rise in body temperature means that the immune system is working: fever occurs because the brain sends signals telling the body to kill the viruses that have infected the body, which is achieved by increasing the normal temperature a few degrees . It is considered that a fever is suffered from 38 degrees so if the child has less it is not worth worrying.
To be aware of how ill the child is, one must also consider the other visible symptoms that he shows . If the fever is not very high and you have runny nose and a cough, you most likely have a common cold. If you have vomiting or diarrhea you probably have a stomach virus. In both cases, the fever usually goes down regularly in a few days . Seasonal colds also tend to strike suddenly, so it is normal if the child is well and the next day suddenly cannot get out of bed.
It is not highly recommended to medicate the child, because what it does is mask the fever , it does not help to lower the temperature. However, if you notice that he is very uncomfortable or moody, you can try one of the remedies that we suggest below.
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NATURAL REMEDIES TO LOWER FEVER
1. Place a washcloth soaked in warm, cool water on the child’s forehead.
2. A warm bath is a good remedy, as the temperature will tend to drop until the water evaporates from your body. Do not use cold water because the contrast will be too strong and could lead to chills or spasms.
3. Try to get the patient to eat foods from the fridge or freezer that are highly hydrating, such as fresh juices, ice creams, yogurts or gelatin. And always plenty of water .
4. Install a fan. The objective is not that the child receives a lot of cold to combat fever, it is to find a balanced temperature. So put the fan at a distance and a prudent power, that does not disturb.
5. Remove layers of clothing from the child if he is very hot until he is wearing only a light garment. If it oscillates between hot and cold it is best to cover it with a blanket , as it is easier to put on and take off.
6. The best thing when the child is sick is to stay indoors in a cool environment . If for any reason you have to stay outdoors, it should always be in the shade.
7. The infusion of sunflower can also be prepared to reduce fever. Water is boiled and the sunflower petals are introduced, which have this property. Let it rest for a few minutes and you can add honey or sugar to make it taste better.
Under no circumstances do you apply the old remedy of placing alcohol-impregnated cloths under the armpits or rubbing the body with that substance because the temperature will drop too abruptly and there may be cases of seizures, poisoning and even coma.
PHARMACOLOGICAL REMEDIES FOR FEVER
If after trying these methods they do not work and the child continues to feel unwell, we can consider administering a medication ( only if it is older than 3 months and it is highly recommended to consult with the doctor).
Children’s medicines that contain acetaminophen (Tylenol – paracetamol -, Tempra, Abenol …, whose best known medicine is Apiretal) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Brufen … of which the most popular is Dalsy ), are the that will treat fever better. Remember that minors cannot be given aspirin , as they are at risk of serious side effects such as intestinal pain, bleeding, and even a brain disease called Reye’s syndrome.
WHEN TO GO TO THE DOCTOR?
As we have already said, it is not necessary to be alarmed that the child has a fever. However, this does not mean that we have to ignore the condition of the patient: we must follow their evolution to make sure that there is nothing out of the ordinary. It depends on the age of the child and the degree of fever they have, we will know if the involvement of the doctor is more or less urgent. If the child is 0 to 2 months old, we can take him to the doctor at the slightest sign of fever , since he is still very young and more vulnerable. If it is between 3 or 6 months old, it will be from 38º when we will consider the visit to the doctor. If the patient is over 6 months old, we can take him to the outpatient clinic when he is over 39º.
Definitely it will be necessary to take it to the doctor if, administering the opportune remedy it does not improve and the fever does not get down in 72 hours. Also if you show other serious symptoms such as shortness of breath, diarrhea and continuous vomiting or spots on the skin. If he shows signs of dehydration such as little or no urine, if he cries and no tears come out or has a dry mouth, you should also see a doctor.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.