Everyone around the child is sniffling, has a cold, perhaps a cough or is plagued by other typical "winter symptoms". Only the baby is lively and healthy. Why is that? It's quite simple: when the little ones are born, they are infected with a so-called Nest protection equipped. It protects them very well against infections in the first few months of life. This is because the mother has transferred antibodies to the unborn child during pregnancy.
So babies start life with a real immune booster. Nevertheless, it cannot be ruled out that even the youngest children will get a fever. It indicates that the body is now working at full speed to fight off an infection. The fever itself is therefore not an illness, but merely a symptom that viruses or bacteria are "attacking" and can trigger an infectious disease. The higher body temperature during a fever makes it more difficult for the invaders to spread in the body.
A child's body reacts quickly with a fever. This can sometimes rise rapidly. The reason for this is that children's immune systems are not yet as strong as those of adults. In many cases, the fever in children disappears on its own. However, caution is advised, especially with newborns and young babies. If your small child has a fever, it is better to contact your paediatric practice. (More on this below).
Important: For babies and small children, or if you have a high temperature, it is important that you carry out a reliable temperature check. This can be done by taking a rectal temperature.
Sick children need a lot of care and rest, so that you can succeed in taking good care of your child even in these special moments, midwife Katharina has created the Online first aid course made.
The body temperature
From 36.5 degrees
The Normal body temperature in children is between 36.5 and 37.5 degrees. It is not unusual for it to be 0.5 degrees higher in the evening. This can be due to (overly) warm clothing, bath water that is too warm or a duvet that is too warm. In addition, the body temperature is often half a degree higher in the evening even if children have been playing outside or have been active in sports.
From 37.6 degrees
Values between 37.6 and 37.9 degrees are referred to as Increased temperature. Now it is important to give the child something to drink regularly (about every half hour) so that the body does not become dehydrated. Breastfeeding babies are also fed more often than usual. Your child will also benefit from special attention and quieter activities. Parents should also remember to check their baby's temperature regularly.
From 38.0 degrees
This value defines for children Fever. An important distinction must be made here. A temperature of 38.0 degrees is the limit at which the greatest attention must be paid in children up to 12 weeks of age and children who are under stress (for example because they have a previous illness). Older, fundamentally healthy children may reach 38.5 degrees for a fever to be recognised and appropriate measures taken.
Now it is important to continue to give the little patient a drink regularly (about every half hour). You can also take this opportunity to check the temperature regularly.
Now only offer your child easily digestible foods. This could be pieces of fruit, for example, perhaps with some semolina pudding. A light soup also provides fluids. Resting in bed or on the sofa helps your little one's body to fight off the pathogens.
A child with a fever needs a lot of attention and is particularly receptive to affection. Depending on how your child is feeling, you may also be able to give them a fever-reducing medication in consultation with your paediatrician. (More on this below)
From 39 degrees
This value is considered High fever. In addition to the measures recommended so far, it is also important to ensure that the child is not "wrapped up" too warmly. If necessary, lukewarm compresses or a lukewarm flannel on the forehead can supplement the treatment.
Seek medical advice
Fever is one of the most common reasons why parents take their child to a paediatrician's practice or hospital emergency department. Conversely, parents should also seek medical advice if they notice that very young babies are unusually weak, do not want to drink, have a change in skin colour, are sensitive to touch or anything else that is conspicuous, even without a rise in temperature. It can also be Without fever a serious infection is present.
- Above all Newborns and babies up to three months with a fever of 38 degrees should be presented to a paediatric clinic immediately.
- When Babies aged three to 12 months If they have a fever, they should be seen by a doctor by the next morning at the latest.
- With Children between 12 and 24 months a visit to the doctor is indicated if the fever lasts longer than one day.
- Children from the age of two should be seen by a doctor after three days of fever. If diarrhoea, vomiting or abdominal pain occurs in addition to the fever, or if the child's condition deteriorates significantly, a visit to the doctor is a must. The same applies to episodes of fever or fever that does not go down despite appropriate medication.
- In general: Do not hesitate to seek medical advice if your child is very weak and/or you are very worried or unsure. The above guidelines are for your guidance only - you do not necessarily have to allow a certain amount of time to pass or have a certain body temperature before you take your baby to the doctor.
Measure fever
To take your child's temperature, you can use a digital clinical thermometer or an infrared thermometer. The latter can be used to measure the temperature in the ear or on the forehead. If you use an infrared thermometer, it is important that you check the temperature taken with a digital clinical thermometer before you take any further action or refrain from taking any further action.
The most accurate readings for babies and toddlers are taken rectally - in the bum. To do this, lay your child on their back or side and apply some Vaseline or similar to the tip of the digital clinical thermometer. Then carefully insert it one to two centimetres into the baby's bum hole and wait for the thermometer's acoustic signal. A toy in the baby's hand provides distraction. The digital thermometer can also be used to take a temperature under the armpits. However, the temperature can deviate by one to two degrees here. Above all, it will be inaccurate if the little one does not keep still.
Reduce fever
Even if a fever is "only" a protective reaction of the body and therefore does not need to be reduced immediately, it may be necessary to counteract it. From a reference value of around 39 degrees, antipyretics are used more frequently. These can be fever suppositories or fever syrup from the (House) pharmacybe.
When administering Suppository resp.. Feverfew juices or Fever drops on the exact dosage. This depends on your child's body weight. This will prevent an overdose, which could result in possible damage to health. Even if the child spits out the juice again, it should only be given again if it has not yet swallowed it. A fever suppository may only be administered again if the child pushes it out again immediately. The medication takes effect after around half an hour and lasts for six hours. This means a maximum of four doses of medication in 24 hours, unless the paediatrician prescribes otherwise.
From 39 degrees you can also Calf wrap on the child. They are probably the best-known household remedy for fever. But beware: No calf compresses for babies under three months, says the Federal Centre for Health Education! And for older babies only if they have a fever of over 39 degrees! The calf compress must not be cold. Otherwise it is not only unpleasant, but also has the opposite effect. The fever will then continue to rise. The guideline is that the compress should be one degree colder than the child's body temperature. As soon as the fever goes down and your child's general condition improves, the compresses should be stopped. For children who are cold or have chills never Wraps or compresses applied.
The "recipe" for calf compresses: You need three cloths per calf. Moisten one cloth (cotton or linen) with warm! Apply water and wrap it around the child's calf. Wrap a second dry cloth (cotton or linen) around it so that it can absorb the excess moisture. A woollen cloth seals the wrap as the top layer. When the compresses have become body-warm, remove or replace them. This is the case with small children after about 10 - 20 minutes.
Special cases - the febrile seizure
It looks frightening, but is usually quite harmless: a Febrile seizure. The child then rolls its eyes for a few minutes, arms and legs become rigid and twitch or go limp. The area around the lips turns a bluish colour and the child briefly loses consciousness. After about three to four minutes, the febrile convulsion is usually over again.
This is a reaction of the nervous system when the temperature rises or falls rapidly. It affects around four per cent of children aged between six months and five years.
The most important thing parents can do in the event of a febrile seizure is to Keep calm! Even if you - understandably - find it difficult. You must not give your child anything to eat or drink now, as there is too great a risk of choking. It is therefore best to keep your child in a stable position during the seizure and remove any potential risk of injury. Do not try to hold or even shake your child. This will not interrupt the seizure or the post-seizure sleep phase, but it does pose a risk of injury to you and your child. After the cramp, your child will enter a so-called post-nap phase. During this phase, you should position your child on their side so that their mouth and nose are free. If your child vomits, the vomit must not get into the lungs.
Try to measure the time of the seizure. If it is the first seizure, inform the emergency services. They will support you in this situation. Until the emergency services arrive, it is important that you keep your child warm, even if the seizure was triggered by a fever, and try to calm your child with your voice.
Special cases - the three-day fever
Another special feature is the so-called Three-day feverwhich is transmitted by droplet infection (coughing and sneezing). The cause of this widespread childhood illness is usually a harmless infection caused by a herpes virus. It is characterised by a sudden onset of a very high fever that lasts for three to four days and then disappears just as suddenly. A pale red rash with small spots appears on the chest and back for a further two to three days. After that, the infection is over - and your child is immune to it for life.
In the case of three-day fever, only the fever can be treated, not the underlying infection. To be on the safe side, however, parents should visit their paediatrician's practice.
If you would like to read more about fever and how to help your sick child, you can find everything you need to know about prophylaxis and help for your sick child in the m eBook from emergency midwife Katharina.
