How do I get my child's temperature down quickly? 

Fever is a body temperature above 37.8 degrees Celsius. Fever is not just a feeling of heat or sweating. To be considered a fever, a person's temperature must be elevated, measured with a thermometer.

Normal body temperature is not the same for everyone, but is generally around 98.6°F (37°C). Normal body temperature can be a degree above or below 37°C in some people.

How to measure temperature

*Wait at least 15 minutes after consuming a hot or cold beverage. Make sure your child's mouth is free of candy, gum, or food.

 

*Place the tip of the thermometer under the tongue toward the back of the mouth.

 

*Firmly purse your lips. Don't bite the thermometer.

 

*Hold the thermometer in place until it beeps.

 

*Remove the thermometer from the mouth, read and record the temperature.

What are the signs and symptoms of fever?

*Sweating

*Chills and shivering

*Headache

*Muscle pain

*Anorexia

*Ease of arousal

*Drought

*General weakness

 

Use of fever-reducing medications 

   High temperature or fever in children is usually one of the symptoms and signs that accompany other health problems or disorders, and its appearance often indicates that the body is fighting some type of infection, which indicates that there is a group of medications. that help lower the child's temperature, but it is advisable to consult with the doctor before using any of them in babies under two months of age, and also make sure to read the medication leaflet carefully and consult with the doctor or pharmacist for the appropriate dosage of the medication. medication.

 

It should be noted that it is necessary to avoid the use of aspirin in children without consulting the doctor, as it could have a negative effect by increasing the risk of developing Reye's syndrome, which is a rare and serious health disorder. Below is a list of the most commonly used medications to reduce children's temperature.

 

 

Paracetamol

  Paracetamol or acetaminophen helps reduce the temperature of children, including babies. It can be used in babies from three months. As for younger children, a doctor should be consulted before administering paracetamol. The dose of paracetamol is indicated and is calculated based on the child's weight and not her age, as some might think. A dose may be given every 4 to 6 hours as needed, no more than 5 times a day.

 

Paracetamol can be used to reduce the baby's temperature after vaccination, and paracetamol is available in various pharmaceutical forms, such as: syrup, suppositories and oral pills that can be given to older children, and it should be noted that the child begins to You will feel better about 30 minutes after taking the syrup or pills. As for suppositories, they can take up to 60 minutes to take effect and show their effect, and it is very rare for paracetamol to cause side effects or an allergic reaction in children.

 

Ibuprofen 

   The dose of ibuprofen is also calculated based on the child's weight and not their age. It should not be used in children under 6 months of age unless directed by a doctor. As for older children, they will be able to receive ibuprofen once every 6 hours. It should be noted that it is available as a syrup, capsules, oral lozenges, and suppositories, as well as a suspension available as a powder dissolved in sterilized water. Usually, the child begins to feel better after about 20 to 30 minutes of taking the medicine.

 

Ibuprofen is not suitable for some children, so it is recommended to consult with a doctor or pharmacist before using it in children with certain health conditions. Like asthma, liver and kidney disorders, for example. Ibuprofen can also cause some common side effects, such as heartburn and indigestion, and in rare cases, it can cause an allergic reaction in children.

 

Use lukewarm water compresses

Using warm water compresses is one of the most common ways to reduce high body temperature, especially if it is caused by exposure to certain external factors, such as exercising or staying outside for a long time in hot weather. Warm compresses are applied to specific areas of the body, such as the underarm area. And the groin area or upper thigh, but we must take into account the possibility of the body temperature increasing again after removing the compresses, in addition to the need to avoid the use of compresses or ice packs to reduce temperature.

 

Place the child in a lukewarm water bath

   Placing the child in a warm water bath may be used to help reduce body temperature in combination with the use of medication or alone in cases where the child vomits and cannot keep the medication down. fever. In this context, it is recommended to use water with a temperature between 29 and 32 degrees Celsius. Be sure to avoid using cold water as it can have a negative effect by making the child shiver or shiver which can contribute to an increase in body temperature.

 

If the affected child is unable to sit in the bathtub, warm water can be placed over the child's body with a towel and placed on the stomach, groin, under the arms, and behind the neck. It should be noted that adding medicinal alcohol to water to reduce its temperature should be avoided; Absorbing alcohol through the skin or inhaling it can cause serious health problems in children.

Lighten the child's clothing

  Contrary to what many people think, a child does not need more clothes when he has a fever. Since sweating caused by wearing extra clothing is not a correct and effective way to reduce body temperature, but, on the contrary, can cause discomfort to the child; Therefore, it is recommended to reduce the child's clothing during his fever, in addition to wearing more clothing that will prevent heat from escaping from the body and thus contribute to raising body temperature.

Reduce room temperature

   It is recommended to lower the room temperature of a child with a fever as well as the temperature of the house to avoid overheating, while avoiding significantly lowering the room temperature. Instead, try to be moderate and adapt it to the child.

Rest and drink fluids

   Make sure the child with a fever gets plenty of rest and drinks enough fluids to avoid dehydration. If the child is an infant, it is recommended to try to increase the number of feedings. As with other children, be sure to drink enough water and provide soups, flavored jellies, and heat-reducing drinks; Like diluted juices, with the aim of maintaining body humidity and compensating for fluid loss due to sweating.

Natural ways to reduce children's temperature

   There is a group of natural methods commonly used by the general public, represented by the use of natural ingredients or herbs to lower the temperature, and it is advisable to avoid following these methods, especially to lower the temperature of children, due to the lack. of enough studies that confirm the efficacy or safety of these methods, and one of these methods is famous for the so-called cutting onions and putting them in socks when suffering from certain types of infections; Similar to the common cold or flu, and although there have been several studies on the subject, the final results are uncertain and have not shown a clear effect on the effectiveness of onion in reducing infection. As for the rest of the methods whose effectiveness in reducing fever has been studied, they are the following:

   *Moringa Plant: The Moringa plant contains many important nutritional elements, such as: minerals and vitamins, in addition to having antioxidant and antibacterial properties. It has shown positive results when used to treat fever in the laboratory, as demonstrated by a study conducted on an 18-year-old girl. One month, the effectiveness of a solution composed of Moringa extract to lower your high temperature, and this study was published in 2018 in The Canadian Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

   *Kudzu Root: (Kudzu Root), which is one of the herbs used in Chinese folk medicine. It has anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce pain. A laboratory study published in 2012 in the journal Ethnopharmacology demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing high fever, but more experiments and studies need to confirm its effectiveness and safety in humans. It is also noted that this plant can interact with many therapeutic drugs, so it is necessary to consult a doctor before using it.

Things you should avoid when your child has a high temperature

Care should be taken to avoid the following when the child's temperature rises:

 

*Use adult medications for children.

*Delay seeking medical attention if the child is seriously ill or if the newborn has a high temperature. 

*Cover the child with thick clothing or blankets, even if the child is shivering or shivering.

*Using cold and cold medicines without consulting a doctor.

*The use of medicinal alcohol to lower the temperature, as mentioned above, alcohol can have a negative effect and lead to alcohol poisoning in a child, in addition to its ineffectiveness in lowering the temperature.

 

Article summary

 It is clear that there are many tips and measures at home that help reduce children's temperature, such as: using antipyretics, placing the child in a warm water bath, getting enough rest, drinking enough fluids, in addition to warm water. compresses and loosens the child's clothing, making it necessary to consult the doctor when it is noticed that the baby's temperature does not drop or when the newborn's temperature rises, in addition to the need to be careful to avoid certain dangerous methods to lower the child's temperature . affected child.