Fever is having a temperature higher than normal in the body. Its symptomatology in a child comes to determine as a signal that the body is trying fight disease or infection. But many times, parents try to determine what happens when children have a fever and we find no other reason as it is not accompanied by other symptoms.
Faced with such a situation, we can not specify a sure answer, and in the face of such a fact, we are concerned about the uncertainty of what to do about it. Should we take him to the doctor? Can we wait? Do we administer some kind of pain reliever? On this type of doubt we can read what initiative to take in the face of any of these issues.
When is it considered a fever?
The temperature taken in the child must be between 36,5° and 37°. The correct way and to indicate that it is accurate must be done rectally. When the temperature reaches 38 degrees is when it is indicating a fever.
many of the times can be an occasional indicative, since if it is not subject to any other symptoms it would not be necessary to take it immediately to a doctor's office. In most cases, the child usually feels better when the parents take some kind of measure and then the fever no longer subsides. In these cases there is usually a benign and self-limited viral infection, so you will not dispense with any treatment. In other cases it may be a bacterial disease where yes, he would need a follow-up and medication.
Causes for which the child may have a fever for no apparent reason
In these cases fever acts as a mere defense mechanism, where the body acts as a defense against some external or internal agent and where it considers it harmful. When it attacks these agents it tries to block them and that is why the fever occurs. Many of these children are very young and represent this type of defense at the slightest sign of aggression, but what are the most common causes?
- in the teething. In these cases and in the rupture of the gum, there are children who have low-grade fever, but it only goes up a few tenths. If there is much more fever, above 38°, in this case it could be different from the eruption of the teeth and a doctor should be consulted.
- vaccine fever. During the next 48 hours after a vaccine is given, a slight fever usually occurs.
- A heat stroke or excessive coat. Babies may not yet have the necessary mechanisms to regulate the outside temperature. There are cases in which they have had a strong heat stroke in summer or have an excessive coat in times of mid-winter. Immediately try to remove the clothes or cool him down and take his temperature again a few minutes later. Taking these measures should lower body temperature.
- Fever from some kind of infection. In most cases, fever occurs when it is of viral origin. It usually occurs when it affects them in the respiratory tract, in the digestive system or in the urinary system. It is not necessary to take any antibiotic and you do need to take some type of pain reliever to bring down the fever.
When to see a doctor
In casual moments with a few tenths of a fever and without significant symptoms, it is not necessary for the child to go to the doctor. But for other cases It should be taken into account if there are these other symptoms:
- When the baby is less than 3 months old and has a temperature above 38°. Even if it has reached up to about 40° given any age of the child.
- You have seizures, are sleepy, or irritable. Or you have a stiff head, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, or a skin rash.
- If you have any kind of dehydration such as sunken eyes, no wet diaper or dry mouth.
These are the signs that point to taking the child to a medical center at the same time that he has a fever. If even giving the child some type of analgesic and it does not improve, or the fever persists for more than 3 days, it is still an indication of medical attention.