Is a child with a fever of 38 considered a high fever? Some mothers believe that if their child has a fever of 38 degrees, they need to use antipyretics. For children, if the temperature does not exceed 38.5 degrees, it is considered low-grade fever, and there is no need for antipyretic medicine at this time. You can choose physical fever reduction. For example, using cold compress or applying potato slices to the forehead can have a certain fever reducing effect. Now let's take a look at the introduction.
Is a child with a fever of 38 considered a high fever
When a child has a fever, a body temperature of 37.5-38 is considered low fever, 38-39 is considered moderate fever, 39 or above is considered high fever, and over 41 is considered ultra-high fever. Fever is a response of the body to the invasion of viruses or bacteria, which is beneficial for eliminating the invading viruses and bacteria, thus promoting the normal growth and development of children.
If the body temperature does not exceed 38 degrees, generally do not rush to reduce the fever, especially before a clear diagnosis is made. Blindly rushing to reduce the fever may mask the condition and interfere with the diagnosis of the disease. When the body temperature reaches 39 degrees or above, seek medical guidance to reduce fever.
Physical cooling below 38.5 degrees Celsius, such as drinking plenty of water, soaking in warm water with alcohol, etc., antipyretic drugs have significant side effects. The neural inhibition mechanism of infants and young children is not yet sound, and using them during high fever can easily induce convulsions. It can also cause collapse due to excessive sweating, and even jaundice due to the accumulation of free bilirubin in the blood. At the same time, it can also damage the digestive system and liver and kidney function, and some may cause Reye's syndrome, leading to a decrease in white blood cells and platelets
When a baby has a fever, if it is within six months, they should be immediately taken to the hospital for treatment. In general, if a baby's fever is below 38.5 ℃, it is recommended to use only physical methods to help the baby cool down. When the body temperature exceeds 38.5 ℃, give the baby antipyretic medicine.
Nursing care for children with fever reaching 38 degrees Celsius
1. Wear less clothes to help children dissipate heat
The traditional concept is that when a baby has a fever, they should be wrapped tightly in a blanket to "force" the sweat out, but this is actually incorrect. When babies have a fever, they may experience tremors due to spasms caused by an increase in their body temperature.
2. Baby fever, physical cooling
Soak a soft towel in cold water at 20 ℃ -30 ℃, squeeze it slightly to prevent dripping, fold it and place it on the forehead. Replace it every 3-5 minutes. Fill the ice bag with small ice cubes and a small amount of water until it is half full, release the air inside the bag, press the bag tightly, and place it on the pillow after there is no water leakage.
3. Add sufficient hydration
When a baby has a high fever, their breathing increases and sweating can cause the body to lose a large amount of water. Therefore, parents should give their baby sufficient water when they have a fever, increase urine output, and promote the elimination of toxins from the body.
Is a child with a fever of 38 degrees considered high fever? This is not considered a high fever, and parents should not be too nervous. Pay attention to the care of children, especially in terms of diet, which should be light and balanced. Drink plenty of plain water and use cold compress to help children reduce fever. Pay attention to the child's mental state and let them rest more.