Table of contents
- Bringing down a fever doesn't make you healthy
- Reduce fever if it rises too high
- Naturally reduce fever in children
- When should a child go to the doctor if they have a fever?
A wave of illness is currently sweeping through schools and daycare centers again. Children, parents and educators or teachers alike are lying flat and fighting coughs, colds and fever. The latter in particular is often the most stressful part of an infection. Because when the body is affected by elevated temperatures, adults and children feel weak and listless.
We therefore tend to view fever as something bad and take measures to suppress it. In fact, fever is a good sign. It shows that our body is able to defend itself against infections independently and without the addition of medication.
So that you can still keep your nerve if your child has a fever again, we will explain to you when the fever is good and normal and when you should actually treat it with fever-reducing juice, suppositories or other medication.
Bringing down a fever doesn't make you healthy
We like to think of fever as a symptom of an illness. And just as we want to 'fight' the disease and get rid of it quickly, we also treat fever. For convenience, we lower it with medication in the hope of faster recovery.
In fact, fever is a sign that our immune system is working. If the temperature inside the body rises, it stimulates the activity of the immune system and slows down the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and viruses. This also means: If the pathogens are in retreat and the body gains the upper hand, the fever drops on its own.
If you take fever-reducing measures too early, you even resort to fever juice, suppositories, etc. If the thermometer shows just a few tenths of a degree too high, you prevent your body from getting well quickly. The immune system is suppressed with antipyretic drugs.
This is particularly counterproductive for children whose immune systems are still developing. Instead of letting the body do its work, we prevent it from doing so with supposed help measures. The result is that we continue to weaken the immune system in the future.
In addition, artificially lowering the fever can lead to a child overdoing it. Because as long as the medicine works, it doesn't feel sick, runs around and plays extensively. But what the sick body actually needs is rest so that the immune system can do its work.
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Reduce fever if it rises too high
Depending on the illness and the strength of the immune system, a child's body temperature can rise very high. Whether and when you should give medication or take countermeasures depends, in addition to the fever, on the general condition of the sick child.
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It is important to know: Children have different guidelines than adults as to when one speaks of fever or high fever.
Did you know?The level of the fever says nothing about the severity of the illness! It is a fallacy to believe that the higher the fever, the worse the illness.
In children, a body temperature of 38.5 degrees Celsius or more is considered to be a fever. Anything below this is medically considered an elevated temperature. If the thermometer climbs to 39.5 degrees or higher, it is called a high fever. Slightly lower values apply to adults. In medical terms, we speak of a fever from 38.1 degrees Celsius in adults and a high fever from 39.1 degrees Celsius.
When do you have to lower your fever?
There is no absolute fever limit above which medication should be given in any case.
For example, if a child's body temperature rises to 38.5 degrees Celsius or higher, i.e. if a child has a real fever, it can be lowered if the child feels bad, doesn't want to eat or drink and generally seems very unresponsive. And even if a child feels really bad below the fever limit of 38.5 degrees, you can take countermeasures.
On the other hand, even with a fever of 38.5 degrees or more, there is no need to take any countermeasures if the child feels well under the circumstances, is drinking and perhaps even eating.
Exception for febrile seizures
In children who are more likely to experience rapidly increasing fever and related symptomsIf you tend to have a fever, an early reduction in fever from 38.5 degrees Celsius can minimize the risk of cramps, although it cannot prevent it. Ideally, talk to your pediatrician or adolescent doctor about what measures you should take in the event of a febrile infection if your child has already had a febrile seizure.
It is very important that children with a fever ALWAYS drink a lot to prevent dehydration. Ideally they drink water. But tea, lightly sweetened or juice spritzers can also adequately cover the water balance in the body.
By the way:Fever only becomes dangerous when the body temperature reaches 41.5 degrees. However, the level of suffering among children and adults is usually so great that countermeasures are taken.
A high fever can also cause fever dreams or hallucinations in the child. This is not dangerous, but it is very frightening for parents if the child no longer recognizes you or talks confusedly.
Naturally reduce fever in children
You don't always have to take medication to lower your body temperature. Even simple home remedies can regulate high body temperature if used correctly.
Calf wraps, a damp cloth on the forehead or around the wrists are, for example, simple methods of regulating an overheated body. The important thing here is that the fever must have reached its peak. If the child has chills, the fever is just rising. When the child begins to sweat, the peak has been reached. Only after the chills phase should you apply cooling compresses.
Also important for wraps and wet wipes: They should not be ice cold, but rather lukewarm so that the temperature difference is not too great.
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When should a child go to the doctor if they have a fever?
Children have a fever relatively often. A visit to the pediatrician is not necessary every time. But this again depends on the general condition of the child and also on its age. The following applies:
Infants and babies a few weeks oldShould always be seen by a pediatrician when the body temperature reaches 38 degrees. The immune system of infants does not yet work in the same way as that of older children or adults. Even with a serious illness, infants may have only a slightly elevated temperature.
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Babies between the ages of 4 and 12 monthsYou should also see a doctor if you appear listless with a fever or high temperature, are not very active, wet less diapers or are in pain.
If the child is still drinking and eating, even if less than usual, this is a good sign. Here it may be enough to give the child some rest. However, if the fever lasts longer than three days, you should always see a pediatrician.
The following applies to small children and older children with an elevated temperature or fever: If the child's general condition is poor, if he or she appears lethargic, does not want to eat or drink, or if there are other symptoms in addition to the fever, you should seek medical advice. The same applies if a fever lasts longer than three days or rises above 40 degrees Celsius.
Important NOTE:The content of this article is for informational purposes only and does not replace a diagnosis from a doctor. If you have any uncertainties, urgent questions or complaints, you should contact your doctor. The medical on-call service can be reached via the nationwide number 116117.