Fever is defined as body temperature rising 1 to 4 °C above normal. Body temperature varies depending on age, gender, time of day when measured, season, physical activity and environmental temperature. Fever is higher in children than in adults.
Values above 37.4°C from the armpit, 37.5°C from the mouth, 38°C from the anus, and 37.8°C from the ear are considered fever.
The most reliable temperature is measured. With which device can we measure it and where?
Fever is measured from the ear, anus, forehead, armpit, skin and mouth. Unfortunately, there is no definitive data in the studies about which device or where the most reliable temperature measurement should be done.
Mercury thermometers and rectal measurement are not recommended in children. That's why I will give information about the three most commonly used methods.
Ear Measurement: Provides a quick measurement. However, since the outer ear structure of children is curved, it may not give healthy results if it is not measured properly. Therefore, while taking the measurement, the child's earlobe is held from the upper part, gently lifted upwards, and the tip of the thermometer is gently pushed into the ear. The presence of a plug in the external ear canal and infection, bathing with very cold or hot water before the measurement may affect the measurement result. In ear measurements, measurements above 37.8 C should be considered as fever.
Armpit Measurement; It is reliable and easy to apply. However, measurements should be made after the armpit is dried. It should be kept in mind that it may give inaccurate results when the armpit is wet (measurements with sweaty armpits or after bathing).
Forehead/Skin Measurement: Measurement can be made very quickly, but its reliability is low. Therefore, temperature should be measured from at least three different areas, such as both sides of the neck and forehead, and the average should be taken. If a high fever occurs, the measurement from the armpit or ear must be repeated.
Is fever a disease?
No. Fever is not a disease, but a normal reaction of the body to diseases. Studies have shown that fever strengthens our body's defense mechanism and releases white blood cells and other chemical transmitters (such as neurotransmitters, cytokines) that will fight against viruses and bacteria. It has been shown to increase fever.
Does fever cause brain damage?
The two most important factors that worry families about fever are the risk of febrile seizures and the concern that fever may cause brain damage. In order for the fever to damage the brain, it must rise above 41.5°C. This is generally seen very rarely in infections. It is mostly seen in rare cases such as sunstroke. Other than that, studies have not shown that fever itself causes brain damage.
Febrile seizure is a type of seizure that is age-dependent, generally non-recurrent, and seen in children with a familial predisposition. It can be seen in 2 to 4 out of every hundred children. It is important to emphasize that febrile convulsions are not a form of epilepsy. Its incidence decreases with age. It does not cause permanent damage to the brain. Studies have not found a relationship between the high level of fever and the likelihood of having a febrile seizure. There is no scientific evidence that using antipyretics prevents the development of seizures.
What is the cause of fever?
Fever in children is caused by flu infections such as colds and flu, which usually heal on their own in a short time. And it will soon fall off on its own. In addition, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, middle ear infection and urinary tract infection are common causes of fever. A very small number of children with fever have serious bacterial infections that are life-threatening or may affect the quality of life in the future.
Does high fever indicate that the disease is serious?
How high the fever is, It does not indicate the severity of the disease, nor does it indicate that it is due to a bacterial or viral infection. What is important here is what the general condition of the child is like. A child who has a fever of 38 degrees and is very tired, weak and weak is in a more severe condition than a cheerful, active child whose temperature is 39 degrees. That's why we should take into consideration the general condition of our child rather than the height of the fever.
The trick here is that if a baby under 3 months of age has a fever, for whatever reason, it should be evaluated by a pediatrician. Because even fever alone is a serious condition in a baby in the first 3 months. It may be a sign of a serious infection.
Should we give antibiotics immediately for fever?
No. As I mentioned above, fever is a symptom, not a disease. It is most often seen as a result of flu infections caused by viruses. However, antibiotics are effective against bacteria; Not against viruses. Therefore, if the fever has not subsided after at least 48 hours, a pediatrician should be consulted and the source of the fever should be determined through the necessary examination and, if deemed necessary, examination.
Do antibiotics reduce fever?
One of the very wrong and common practices is The use of antibiotics as antipyretics. Antibiotics are not antipyretics. They are drugs designed to destroy bacteria. They must be used in the appropriate dose and duration. When a bacterial infection is detected, the effect of an appropriate antibiotic used occurs within 48 hours at the earliest. Do not use antibiotics unless your doctor prescribes them. Inappropriate and excessive use of antibiotics will not contribute to the patient's recovery, and unnecessary use causes the development of resistance against bacteria. As a result of this resistance, unfortunately, when our child really needs this medicine later, the treatment will be ineffective and a stronger medicine may have to be used.
Recommendations for Parents:
1- Children with fever may have low fever. should be dressed and should not be covered with a blanket or quilt. Clothing should be reduced even more while sleeping. The room temperature should be kept at 20-22°C.
2- Since fever causes fluid loss in the body, our child should be given water and liquid foods.
3- You can give your child a shower with warm water. Since putting your child in the shower alone may frighten your child and make him/her uneasy, this painful process can be alleviated by having him/her take a shower on his/her mother's or father's lap. 4- Showering with cold water or applying a compress may cause the fever to rise rather than lowering it. Therefore, you should take a shower with warm water, not cold, or apply a compress.
In most cases of fever lower than 5-38° C, if the child's general condition is good, there may be no need for medication. If your child has a fever above 38.5°C, antipyretics containing paracetamol or ibuprofen can be given depending on your child's age and weight. child If you do not know the recommended dosage according to your child's age and weight, you should consult your doctor.
When to consult a doctor?
When your child has the following findings along with fever, he/she should be evaluated by a pediatrician.
>1- If your child is younger than three months,
2- If your child's temperature is 40°C and above,
3- If your child does not want to drink anything, cries non-stop or seems very weak,
4- If the child has convulsions, a change in consciousness, absent-mindedness along with the fever, if the child vomits everything he eats,
5- If he has respiratory distress, that is, if he breathes frequently or has difficulty breathing,
6- Abdominal If you have pain, headache or pain in your joints and difficulty walking,
7- If you have a rash on your body,
8- If your fever lasts longer than 48 hours and does not go down with antipyretic drugs, you can definitely consult a pediatrician. .
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