10 things you MUST do when your child has fever

Stop! Before you give your child medication for fever, read this!

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When your child suffers from fever, you suffer emotionally and physically too. But remember fever is body s own way of fighting infections. If your little one is suffering from one, don t frett. Most of the time, a fever is a viral infection that settles on its own. That doesn t mean your child doesn't need care and attention. Here are few things Dr Santanu Sen, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital says you should not do when your little bud has a high temperature.

1. Do not be eager to give antibiotics. Most of the time children even with very high-grade fever of 101, 102, 103 degrees don t need antibiotics. Treating a fever with simple paracetamol syrup will do the job (after consulting your doctor). Remember, antibiotics are only given when the doctor suspects a bacterial infection causing the fever. Here is all you need to know about fever in children.

2. Maintain good hand hygiene. This is to ensure that you keep infections at its minimal. Washing hands or using a sanitiser before and after meals is necessary.

3. Always eat fresh produce. Fruits, homemade fruit juices, home cooked foods are best options to help a child s immunity get better. Here are 12 superfoods that help boost a child s immunity.

4. If your child suffers from vomiting and diarrhoea, avoid force feeding, instead replenish with lots of fluids and water. Offer electrolyte drinks, homemade electrolyte solution with sugar and salt, fruit juices or just plain water to prevent dehydration. Here is why you should worry when your child is having lose motions.

5. Include probiotics in your child s diet. This works excellently to aid digestion and improve immunity.

6. To reduce the temperature, it is a good idea to give a sponge bath, lukewarm water bath or just use cold compressors to make your baby comfortable. You can repeat this as and when the temperature rises.

7. Keep a tab on urination. If your child has not urinated for five or six hours, this can be a sign of dehydration. The next step in such scenario is to put the child on IV.

8. Avoid giving liquids or any food to your child just after she vomits. Wait at least for 30 minutes before offering food or juices.

9. Look for other symptoms. If your child s fever doesn t reduce beyond three days and she suffers from loose motions and vomiting five to six times a day, you probably need to take some other course of action which only your paediatrician can guide you about. A blood test or a urine test in such a case becomes necessary.

10. Stay patient. This is easier said than done but as a parent your cool and calm temperament can go a long way in helping your little one counter and recover from the illness.

Image source: Shutterstock

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