If your child has a fever, don't panic.

Author: Jiang Yue Shanghai First People's Hospital

Reviewer: Shen Hua, Chief Physician of Shanghai First People's Hospital, Vice President of Family Doctor Branch of China Association of Geriatric Care, Vice Chairman of Shanghai Foreign Medical Specialty Branch

Xiao Zhu is a 1-year-old child. After playing in the park with his mother in the morning, he lost his appetite in the morning due to sweating and being blown by the wind. His forehead felt a little hot. Xiao Zhu's mother was very worried, so she sought help from a doctor online. Next, let's learn about the "10 questions and 10 answers" about children's fever.

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1. What is the body temperature of a child considered to have a fever?

The normal temperature fluctuation range of children is roughly: armpit temperature 36.5 ~ 37.2 ℃. When the body temperature continues to rise and exceeds the upper limit of the normal temperature fluctuation in 1 day, it can be regarded as a fever.

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2. Which method of measuring body temperature is more accurate?

It is recommended to use an electronic thermometer to measure the temperature under the armpit. Mercury thermometers are dangerous and fragile, while forehead thermometers and ear thermometers are simple and convenient, but they are affected by many factors and are prone to errors. When measuring, make sure to wipe off the sweat, hold the thermometer tightly in the armpit, and keep it for 5 minutes to get an accurate temperature reading.

3. Under what circumstances do you need to seek medical attention?

The severity of a child's fever should not be judged simply by the temperature and duration, but should be assessed by comprehensive observation of the child's skin color, reaction to the outside world, breathing and heart rate.

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4. Why do we need to have a blood test in the hospital when we have a fever? Can’t we just take “cephalosporin”?

Infection is one of the main causes of febrile diseases in children. However, there are many types of pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, which require different treatment measures. "Cephalexin" is only a drug for bacterial infections and is not suitable for all infections. In the early stages of the disease, it is difficult for doctors to determine the pathogen only by symptoms, and routine blood tests, as the most commonly used basic auxiliary test method, can provide great help for doctors to identify the disease.

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5. Will children get better faster if they receive intravenous drips when they have a high fever?

In most cases, children do not need infusion therapy. Whether to infuse depends on the condition and diagnosis, and has no direct relationship with the body temperature. Conventional infusion therapy itself cannot directly reduce the temperature. In terms of drug efficacy, both oral and intravenous drugs can act on the whole body, and there is no significant difference between the two.

6. If a child vomits after taking antipyretics, can he or she take the medicine again?

If you vomit immediately after taking the medicine, and you can see the whole tablet or all the liquid in the vomit, you can consider taking it later. If you have taken it more than 15 minutes ago, you need to weigh the risk of overdose that may result from missing a dose of medicine and taking it later. If necessary, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

7. If the child’s temperature does not go down after taking antipyretics, can he take them again?

If the body temperature does not drop after taking the medicine, you should not take antipyretic drugs in advance. The interval between two doses of medicine should be more than 4 to 6 hours, and no more than 4 times in 24 hours. Overdose of medicine can easily cause liver and kidney damage. Please consult a doctor or refer to the drug instructions for the specific frequency of medication.

8. When caring for a child at home, if his temperature rises but he has chills, should we use physical cooling methods or cover him with more blankets and encourage him to sweat?

This needs to be handled on a case-by-case basis:

When the child is shivering, physical cooling should not be used, as this will significantly increase the child's discomfort, aggravate the symptoms of shivering and shivering, and cause the body to generate more heat. At the same time, sweating may cause the child to become dehydrated, and children's body temperature regulation ability is not perfect. Excessive warmth is not easy to dissipate heat, but may cause heat accumulation in the body and cause high fever. At this time, appropriate clothes should be added to keep warm and improve the child's comfort.

When the fever persists, physical cooling can be carried out by applying warm water, taking a warm bath, using a fever-reducing patch, or wearing less clothes. At the same time, lowering the indoor temperature appropriately can also make the child feel comfortable.

9.Will rubbing alcohol on the body reduce fever faster?

Do not use alcohol rubs or ice packs to reduce fever! This will significantly increase the discomfort of children, causing them to shiver, get goose bumps, and cry. Physical cooling of the skin over a large area will cause the body to increase heat production and the capillaries in the skin to contract to counteract this physical cooling, which will have a counterproductive effect.

10.What should you pay attention to when eating at home?

When children have a fever, they consume more calories and lose more water. Therefore, first of all, they should drink more boiled water or electrolyte water with a little salt to replenish water and electrolytes. Secondly, children will have a loss of appetite. At this time, they should be given light and easily digestible food, such as fruits, rice porridge, vegetable soup, etc., and follow the principle of eating small and frequent meals. At the same time, do not rush to supplement high-protein, high-calorie foods to avoid indigestion and gastrointestinal discomfort.