Parents often get concerned even with minor fluctuations in their child's normal temperature. However, according to health experts, there is nothing to worry about fever, as it is a technique adopted by the body to fight an illness.
Hannah Chow-Johnson, a Loyola University Health System Pediatrician, uncovered the whole mechanism involved with fever to eradicate parents' unnecessary worries about fevers.
"My most frequent calls are from worried parents who want to know how high is too high of a fever. What many parents don't realize is that often, fevers are their child's friend," Chow-Johnson said in a news release. "Fevers can actually help your child recover more quickly, especially if he or she is battling a viral illness. I often wish thermometers had a gauge that read either 'fever' or 'no fever.' That would definitely help parents who worry if their child has a fever that's too high."
To educate parents about fever, she recommends a few guidelines:
* During fever, the body tries to control the temperature and it will keep varying, irrespective of the techniques adopted to control it. Taking ample rest and sleep during fever is very important for fast recovery. Chow-Johnson suggests for parents not to awaken their children from sound sleep to administer medicine
* Measuring oral temperature once a day is enough. Digital thermometers provide more accurate data than ear, sticker, pacifier and temporal artery thermometers
* Parents should stop worrying if their children are drinking enough water, urinating and responding well. Only when the child fails doing these three activities, parents should think about hospitalization
* Children should be dressed in light clothing
* Tepid baths should be given to bring the temperature down
* Avoid applying alcohol
* Give medication only when the child appears uncomfortable
* Do not change the medicine frequently
However, parents should rush their children to a hospital during the following situations:
When a child less than two months old is down with a fever of 100.4 or above
* When the child is attending chemotherapy sessions or has a "compromised" immune system
* When the child does not have any other symptoms like cough, cold or pain along with fever even after two or three days
* Consult a doctor without fail when the fever continues after five days
