Fever
Fever is a symptom which is described as a temporary rise in body temperature above normal as a response of the body to an illness or an infection.
The normal body temperature is 36.5-37.5 degrees centigrade. Fever could be low grade, moderate grade and high grade.
It is usually helpful to do a sponge bath using tepid water or water from the faucet to lower the body temperature and in some cases, the giving of Paracetamol computed according to the body weight is of great relief.
Because of our weather now, many children are sick of respiratory infections and some are monitored closely for Dengue fever.
In the clinic, after doing history and physical examination, we advice mothers to give Paracetamol every 4-6 hours only when the body temperature is 38 degrees centigrade and above and to do sponge bathing to lower body temperature.
In lowering the body temperature, the baby will feel more at ease and the risk for febrile seizures are lowered.
Since we know that fever is a response of the body to an illness or an infection, other medications are given if warranted like antibiotics for bacterial infections.
However, for viral infections, no antibiotics are needed.
Supportive laboratories are also ordered by pediatricians to establish the cause of fever like complete blood count, urinalysis and radiographic examinations.
In the case of Dengue fever, parents are strongly adviced to have their children seen by a health care specialist if there is associated poor appetite, headache, abdominal pain, body malaise and vomiting.
Complete blood count and dengue duo tests are done usually at the first 48-72 hours and being monitored closely as the disease progresses.
So, mommies and daddies, since we already know that fever is a normal reaction of the body to an illness or an infection and that it is dengue season once again, please bring your babies and kids to their pediatricians for physical examinations and laboratory tests.