Fever Treatments for Children

The tell-tale moans and groans of a sick child can be heart wrenching to a parent. The obligatory hand-to-the-forehead may reveal an increase in your child's body temperature--a fever. A fever indicates that an infection, caused by harmful bacteria or viruses, is taking place inside of your child's body. Learn how to control your child's fever to make him comfortable, and when it is time to seek medical treatment from your physician or hospital emergency room.

Why Do Fevers Occur?

• Fevers are a natural bodily response in which the immune system intentionally raises body temperature in an effort to kill off invading microorganisms. Since many bacteria and viruses can only thrive in a very limited temperature spectrum, even the slightest increase in ambient temperature can result in their demise.

  Understand that a slight fever shouldn't be a cause for alarm. It is, in fact, a good sign that your child's immune system is functioning properly and doing what it was made to do. If your child's fever rises above 102 degrees F, however, you may wish to treat the fever to bring it down a bit lower. High fevers can lead to discomfort for your child, and there are a variety of ways to make your child feel more comfortable while bringing the temperature down.

Treatments and Comforts

• Medications like acetaminophen (Children's Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Children's Advil) are often the first medications that parents reach for when treating their child's fever. These medications are easily accessible at any drug store or supermarket. You must verify that you are purchasing the correct product for your child, as the concentration of medication increases as the child's age and weight increase. At home, read the instructions on the package to make sure you are administering the appropriate dosage for your child. The child's fever, as well as many of their aches and pains, will decrease within 60 minutes of taking the medicine.

  Never give a child aspirin to reduce a fever or illness symptoms. Children, especially those with chicken pox, are susceptible to Reye's Syndrome, which is associated with aspirin use. Remain on the safe-side and never administer aspirin to a child under the age of 14.

  Aside from medicine, there are a variety of other natural options for keeping your child comfortable and reducing her fever. Applying a light ice-pack or cold wash cloth to the forehead is a simple solution that will likely have your child breathing a sigh of relief.

  Taking a bath in room-temperature water can also ease a fever. The water should never be cold, just cool. Your child may get chills along with their fever, so be sure to make the bath short.

  After the bath, dress your child in light clothing, or if it's possible, just underwear. Cover him in a light sheet and encourage him to rest.

  Offer your child many cold drinks, especially water and fruit juice. If your child prefers, she can suck on an ice cube. Frozen, fruit-flavored ice pops are also a good choice because they're a treat for your child and also work to keep him hydrated.

When to Seek Medical Help

• If your child's fever goes above 104 degrees, or is persistent and lasts for three or more days, it's time to contact your physician for an immediate appointment. In some cases, a fever that slowly creeps higher or lingers around for more than two days signals that your child's body's immune system has a problem that it cannot cure without medical intervention. See your doctor, who will likely prescribe antibiotics to help your child's body fight off the infection at hand.