The normal body temperature ranges between 36.5°C and 37.5°C. A body temperature of 38.5°C and above is considered high fever.
- Fever occurs during an acute infection in your child. It is the response of the body as it fights the infection.
- The temperature reading does not always correlate with the severity of the illness. The activity level and behaviour of your child is more important in determining the severity of the illness.
- Sometimes a higher body temperature can be due to over-wrapping or over-dressing. If your child were outdoors under the hot sun, his/her body temperature may also be temporarily elevated. Fever due to viral infections commonly last for 3 to 5 days, sometimes longer.
Management of fever:
- Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are commonly used in children for symptomatic control of fever
- Tepid sponging with tap or lukewarm water can help - do not sponge if your child is shivering or feeling cold - if you child is shivering, cover him up and wait till the shivering stops before resuming sponging
- For children who are not in great discomfort, you can consider bathtub time using lukewarm water to help bring down the temperature
- Encourage your child to drink lots of fluids
- Dress your child in light clothing 6. Ensure the home environment is well ventilated and cool. This helps bring down the fever.