What do you do about your child's fever?
For the last three days, my daughter's body temperature's high, hovering around 38-38.3 degrees Celsius (That’s why having a digital thermometer at home is quite handy). My wife and I discovered her forehead was warmer than usual when we woke up Tuesday morning. That day was the first day she skipped kindergarten.
After a few attempts of sponging and medications, we still couldn't keep the temperature down. To make things worse, she has running nose, cough, dry throat and low appetite.
My wife and I, of course, got worried. As the last resort, I brought her to a pediatrician this morning.
Here are a few tips from the pediatrician on child's fever.
When the body and forehead are warm but hands and feet are cold, it shows that the body temperature is rising.
One of our main concerns is brain damage caused by fever (we heard so much about this). However, the pediatrician assured me that the damage only happens if you have fit. Under normal situations, the chances of causing brain damage are slim.
What we can do at home to keep the fever under control (but only a temporary measure though) is to sponge the body with a warm towel (preferably body temperature). We should NOT use cold water for the towel. The purpose is to extract heat from the body.
Drink plenty of water.
No swimming.
Those are the main points that I can remember.
Two nights in a row without good sleep is no joke. But it’s our duty as parents to make sure our child is safe and sound. Also this is the time when your child needs you the most. I just hope and pray that she will recover soon and resume school to meet her friends that she already misses.