22/02/2022
โ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐๐๐โ โ ๐ช๐๐ขโ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฅ?
By far, the most common reason parents consult me is for fever. I therefore feel it's important that parents and carers have a full and balanced understanding of fever as a sign of infection in their child, and the best approach to fever based on evidence and not folklore!
Many studies have shown that fever is not dangerous in itself. Fever is a normal, regulated metabolic response to infection. It is part of the immune response to infection. Fever does not โboil the brain!โ
I can understand why parents panic when their child has a fever as they are faced with a sick child and temperature is the one thing you can measure. You cannot measure โillnessโ or โsicknessโ. Meaning temperature is not of great importance. When clinical features of illness are scored as predictors of impending serious illness in children, fever is one of the least important. Most high fevers are caused by simple viral infections. Other features of illness are far more significant.
Also, the commonly used ear thermometers have been shown in studies to be inaccurate and certainly should not be used to measure temperature in children younger than 3 months.
๐๐จ, ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ?
This is debatable. The majority of parents believe reducing a fever will lead to a quicker recovery, it will not! Studies have shown it can, in fact, delay the recovery. Treatment should be given when fever is associated with pain, with the aim of making the child more comfortable.
๐๐จ, ๐ข๐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ, ๐ก๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐ ๐จ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ข๐ญ?
The 2 most widely used medicines are paracetamol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen. Ibuprofen has the quicker onset of action and longer duration of effect. Ibuprofen can have unwanted side effects on the stomach, causing tummy ache and vomiting. Another anti-inflammatory drug popular in this part of the world is diclofenac (Voltaren). It is usually given in suppository form which is useful if a child is vomiting and cannot handle oral medicines.
A practice I do not agree with is the alternating use of paracetamol and ibuprofen. There is no benefit and exposes the child to an increased risk of side-effects. I have seen a child develop kidney damage from this practice, stick to one medicine! Other measures such as application of cold compresses and fanning are outdated and can cause an increase in body temperature.
The focus of attention when dealing with a febrile child should be on other features such as lethargy, poor fluid intake, vomiting/diarrhea and skin rashes.
The message is:
โ๏ธ ๐๐ฃ๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ง๐๐๐ฉ ๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ค๐ข๐๐ค๐ง๐ฉ๐๐๐ก๐.
โ๏ธ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐ก๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฃ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ง๐ค๐ฅ๐ง๐๐๐ฉ๐ ๐๐ค๐จ๐.
โ๏ธ ๐ฟ๐ง๐๐จ๐จ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฃ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ก๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐.
โ๏ธ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ ๐๐ก๐ช๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐.
โ๏ธ ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ ๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ง 3 ๐ข๐ค๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐จ ๐ค๐ ๐๐๐, ๐จ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ค๐๐ฉ๐ค๐ง.
Happy Parenting!
๐๐ป. ๐๐ฎ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฑ ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ฑ๐ธ๐ต๐ต
