Understanding Your Child’s Temperature (and When To See a Doctor)
Being a parent can be tough, especially when your child is sick.
One of the biggest confusions for parents is understanding their child's temperature - for example, what is considered a fever, when to be concerned and what to do about it?
While seeing your child's temperature rise dramatically can be quite alarming, here’s the facts to ensure you feel more confident in how to manage the fever appropriately.
First things first, a high temperature (fever) in children is considered:
over 38 degrees Celsius for babies under three months
over 38.5 degrees Celsius for older babies, toddlers and children.
Many things can cause a high temperature such as regular coughs and colds, and common childhood illness like chickenpox and tonsillitis.
Even, vaccinations can cause a fever.
This is because a high temperature is part of your body's natural response to fighting infection
- and it’s not unusual for children to have up to 12 infections with a fever per year!
The fever, however, is just a symptom and not a disease. So, parents need to consider the child's behaviour and not just their temperature when choosing an appropriate treatment.
Checking their temperature
We recommend using a digital thermometer for a more accurate reading. Measure it 2-3 times to get an accurate estimate, with results being within 0.2-0.3 to gauge the average.
If you don't have a thermometer, your best test is to place your hand on your child's forehead. If they have a fever they will feel like they are 'burning up'.
Your parental instincts are also a good indicator - we know when something is not quite right with our children.
Other signs to look for before deciding on treatment
Rising temperatures don’t always correspond to illness. Children can be sick with normal or low temperatures. So, it's important to also consider these things:
· are they in pain?
· how is their mood?
· are they eating?
Treatment options
Unless the temperature is prolonged, unmanageable or accompanied by other symptoms, it may not need immediate treatment by medication.
So firstly, keep your child hydrated and in light clothing, and give them lots of hugs and cuddles.
It's best to keep your child at home from day-care or school and reduce high-energy, active play while you wait for the temperature to settle.
If your child appears to be in pain and/or miserable, paracetamol can provide relief. Please ensure the correct dose on the bottle is administered according to your child’s weight rather than age.
What NOT to do when your child has a high temperature
Avoid trying to cool them down with limited clothing, cold baths and sponge-downs.
When to call a doctor
Call our Practice straight away if:
your baby is under six months of age and has a temperature above 38 degrees
Your child has a persisting fever over 48 hours
Your child is having trouble breathing, or they are becoming lethargic and listless
your child is in pain and pain relief treatment does not seem to be effective
your child begins to vomit
you are at all worried about your child's condition.
Please remember that your child’s temperature is only part of the story.
If there are any signs they are getting worse you must seek help, regardless of the number on a thermometer.
To book an appointment with one of our Practitioners, please call us on 02 9399 9399.
If your child is experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, please take them to your nearest COVID clinic.
Image source: Pexels - Victoria Borodinova
