Most mothers sense when their child is ill. Very often they cannot be specific but they know that something is wrong. These are some of the things which may provide clues that all is not well with your child:
Loss of appetite
Children's appetites vary and usually if they refuse or do not finish one or two meals, they soon bounce back and eat a huge meal to make up for lost nourishment. If this doesn't happen, it is a signal you should take notice of.
General appearance
Your child may simply not look right. There may be fairly obvious changes like a flushed, hot, dry skin or she may be sweating a lot. Alternatively, she may look pale and her skin feels cold or you may notice that she looks unhappy or is unusually quiet and withdrawn. These are warning signs which you should never ignore.
Changes in behaviour
Your usually happy-go-lucky child may become clinging, whining, irritable, short tempered and very fussy, or you may notice that she is rather drowsy and falls asleep at times when she would normally be full of activity. Never ignore these changes. There is no need to panic if you notice any of these rather vague symptoms. First of all, check to make sure that your child is not wearing too much clothing, and remove excessively warm garments. Let her rest for awhile, preferably in a room with you where she can be reassured by your presence.
Never force food on your child, but give her plenty of drinks -fresh fruit juice sweetened with glucose is the most nourishing, providing plenty of vitamin C and energy. A hand on your child's forehead will tell you whether or not she has a fever, and if you think this is the case then take her temperature.
Your questions answered
Q: What is a fever and what causes it?
A: The range for the normal body temperature is 360C to380C (96.80F to 100.40F). A temperature above 380C (100.40F) is classed as a fever.380C (100.40F) may seem rather high to be normal, but a strenuous game of football can raise a temperature that high. Strenuous exercise makes the body hot. Other reasons for changes in body temperature (apart from an infection) are the time of day, the age of the child and the temperature of the surroundings. The body is always cooler in the morning because of the lack of activity when we are asleep. In most people body temperature rises late in the afternoon when the body has been at peak activity for some time. Because the temperature control centre in the brain in not fully developed in young children, their temperature can shoot up much faster than it can in older children and adults. This is why it is important to check a child's temperature quite frequently if a fever is present. However, remember that high temperature is only one of the signs of an illness. Your child is ill, and if you are unsure, never hesitate to ring your doctor for advice.
Q: How do I take my child's temperature?
A: It is possible to take your child's temperature safely in two ways: in the mouth or, if a small child will not take the thermometer in her mouth, in the armpit. If you are taking a temperature for the first time, here are some useful guidelines:
Always hold the thermometer at the opposite end from the bulb. Every thermometer is marked with numbers and lines. Usually between 350C and 430C (950F and 109.40F) printed on the glass. Very often there is a red line or arrow at 370C (98.60F) which is considered to be the middle of the normal temperature range. Before you take the child's temperature, shake the thermometer down smartly with a jerking movement of the wrist, so that the silver ribbon of mercury is below the 350C (950F) mark.
Place the thermometer in your child's armpit; hold it in position for a few moments. Then read the thermometer. The point you are looking for is the place on the thermometer where the silver column of mercury ends. When you have read the thermometer, record the reading in case your doctor wants to know it.
After use, wash the thermometer with cold water and plain soap. Never use hot water as it may crack the glass (if your thermometer does crack, throw it away). Rinse with coldwater. Dry and wipe with surgical spirit (if you have it). Shake the thermometer down until the mercury column is below 350C.
Replace the thermometer in its case. Now, there are digital thermometers that can be used easily and usually without complications. You may wish to get one of these.
Q: How do I bring the temperature down?
A: There are three main ways to bring a child's temperature down:
Aiding evaporation
Remove clothing and blankets so that your child's body can cool down by simple radiation. Cotton pyjamas and one sheet may be enough. If your child's temperature is over 390C (102.20F), a short-sleeved cotton T-shirt and underpants are quite adequate.
Tepid sponging
If your child's fever is 400C (1040F) or over for longer than half an hour, even though you have removed most of her clothes, sponge her with tepid water. Never use cold water, it gives too much of a shock and because it causes the blood vessels to contract it is less effective than tepid water in lowering the temperature.
Fill a large bucket with water which feels comfortable to your wrist: it will feel cool to your child. Put several clean tea towels or flannels in the bucket. Wring one out slightly so that it is still dripping wet and, using a brisk stroke, sponge down the child's whole body from head to toe. As soon as the flannel feels warm, put it back in the bucket and use another one.
Medicines
Although the most efficient medicine for reducing fever is aspirin, Paracetamol is almost as good and has fewer side effects, so it is probably the best choice for children. However for an old the child, do not give medicine more frequently than every four hours. For the correct dose, follow the manufacturer's instructions precisely. Never over-dose.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited