How To Lower Fever In Children

Adults are often concerned when they see their children experiencing discomfort, including fever. Therefore, it is suggested that they learn how to lower fever and identify when it is time to see a pediatrician.

According to the National Library of Medicine (NIH), fever is defined as an increase in body temperature in response to a specific illness.

In this regard, specialists emphasize that fever is not a disease in itself but a clinical sign that arises from an infectious process and generally does not represent an alarm signal.

However, this can vary depending on the child’s age and other symptoms that may be present. Pediatrician Julio Eguizábal says that parents or guardians of the child should check the temperature with a thermometer and not assume that the child has a fever just because the skin feels warm to the touch .

How to lower fever in children quickly?

The measures to be taken to lower the fever depend on the age of the child and the first step is to determine what disease is causing it. In the case of babies from 0 to 3 months, it is essential to provide immediate medical attention, says pediatrician Edgar Belteton.

If children are older and in good health, parents or guardians can monitor the fever at home for no more than 48 hours. If the fever lasts longer, a specialist should be consulted.

In this case, both Belteton and Eguizábal agree that these measures can help lower the fever:

• Not covering the child up. Both pediatricians mention that many parents make the mistake of covering their children up excessively with sweaters when they have a fever, when in reality children should wear light clothing so that their body can ventilate.
• Keep the child adequately and constantly hydrated.
• Worldwide, it is recommended to take paracetamol (acetaminophen) in these cases, or ibuprofen (except when it is a fever caused by dengue), but you should always consult your primary care pediatrician to determine whether this medicine should be administered and in what dose.
• According to Belteton, it is not recommended to use syrups to reduce fever, as these are used for other purposes. At the doctor’s discretion, children can be bathed two to three times a day, depending on each case.  
• According to Eguizábal, if you are going to use clothes soaked in water to reduce fever, the water should be lukewarm and not cold. Both specialists mention that alcohol should never be used to soak these compresses.

Currently, there is an increase in certain diseases such as dengue and influenza, so this factor must be taken into account in order to act in time and avoid complications.

Where to put clothes to lower fever in children?

According to Eguizábal, the clothes can be placed on the parts of the body with the greatest blood supply, such as the head, chest, abdomen, and feet, to lower fever in children. It is always important to remember that the clothes should be warm and not cold. Also, avoid using alcohol when preparing the compresses, as it can be counterproductive.

How to know if the child has a high fever?

If you want to know if a child has a fever, these are the parameters that experts mention:

• 37.5 degrees Celsius: low-grade fever
• From 37.5 to 38.5 degrees: mild
• From 38.5 to 39 degrees: moderate
• From 39 degrees onwards: high.

What to do if a child’s fever doesn’t go down?

If the fever does not go down within two days (48 hours) if your child stops eating, has difficulty breathing, or if you generally think your child looks very ill, consult your doctor immediately.

Also, according to the NIH, you should go to a health center as soon as possible in these cases:

1. The child is three months old or younger and has a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher.
2. If your child’s temperature is 39 degrees Celsius or higher and he or she is three to 12 months old.
3. If you are two years old or younger and the fever lasts more than one day.
4. If your child is older and the fever lasts more than 48 hours.
5. If the fever is 40.5 degrees Celsius or higher.
6. Shows other symptoms or has a pre-existing illness.  
7. If you have recently had a vaccination.
8. You have a rash, bruising, or pain when you urinate.
9. If you have traveled abroad in the last few days.  
10. In general, it is always recommended to call your family doctor if your child has a fever, as each case is unique.

Specialists recommend staying calm when dealing with healthy children older than three months since it is usually not a serious problem. However, in any case, you should contact your trusted pediatrician to rule out any serious illness since he or she is the professional who knows the child’s medical history in depth.