Fever is one of the most common reasons for consultation along with the problem of coughing. It is rare the father who does not get nervous and loses his calm when seeing how his son has a fever. The most traditional way to take a child's temperature is through a thermometer. If the child is less than one year old, the temperature can be taken through the rectum, while in those over 3 years it is advisable to do it under the armpits. If the temperature is above 38, the little one is said to have fever. If, on the other hand, the minor has less than 38 degrees, it is said that he has a low-grade fever or lack of temper.
There are a number of symptoms that children with fever often have: loss of appetite, headache, crying easily, or muscle aches. Then we inform you when it is convenient to take the child to the pediatrician when he has a fever.
How to lower a fever in a child
When it comes to lowering the fever quickly and without any drugs, experts advise removing as much clothing as possible from the child's body, lowering the temperature of the room or continuously giving water so that it is perfectly hydrous. In the case of drugs, they are not advisable at any time, although you can opt for paracetamol or ibuprofen as exceptional cases and if the fever is too high. In the case of using them, it is advisable to go to the pediatrician first to know for sure the appropriate dose that should be given to the child.
Fortunately, in most cases, the fever usually disappears on its own with the passing of days, so it is not necessary to go to the pediatrician. When a child has a fever, it is usually due to viral or bacterial infections, although it can also be due to other types of causes.
When to see a pediatrician
You have to go to the pediatrician whenever there are a series of circumstances that we detail below:
- If the child has a fever and is under 3 years old.
- If spots appear on the skin, especially red and dark in color.
- If the fever is accompanied by vomiting.
- If in addition to the fever, the child suffers severe headaches.
- If the child has seizures.
- In the event that the little one has serious problems when breathing.
- If the fever lasts more than three days.
- In the event that the fever is accompanied by muscle aches.
Enteroviruses as a cause of fever
It is quite common and normal for children to have a fever due to the enterovirus infection. Children are often infected with such viruses because their immune system does not act against this type of virus. The problem is that children who are infected with enterovirus hardly show symptoms and simply have a slight fever without becoming ill. In other cases, however, the child may suffer respiratory or neurological problems, so it is necessary to go quickly to the pediatrician for the possible complications that the child may have.
In short, nothing happens because children have a slight fever and parents should remain calm at all times and not get nervous. As we have already mentioned above, the fever usually disappears on its own with the passage of time. If you observe that your child, apart from having a fever, suffers other symptoms such as headache, vomiting or seizures, it is advisable to go quickly to the pediatrician. In most cases, parents go to the doctor at the first change without realizing that it is a mild fever due to some type of viral or bacterial infection of little importance.