Fever in children: what reflexes to adopt? - Magicmaman.com

Faced with a fever in their child, young parents are often disarmed and worried. As for confirmed parents, they do not always have the right reflexes. The Afssaps (French Agency for the Safety of Health Products) and the French Society of Pediatrics have updated their recommendations on the management of fever in child. Magicmaman offers you a small point to be completely up to date on the matter.

What are the risks of fever in children?

In children, fever has a purpose: it is a natural reaction of the body to help it fight against infections. Fever is most often not serious: it is very rare that it is the only sign of a serious illness or that it leads to complications. It rarely persists: in the majority of cases, it disappears without it even being necessary to give medication. Moreover, by treating a fever, we are not treating the child, we are relieving it.

When should a child's fever be treated?

A child is considered to have a fever when their temperature exceeds 38 degrees. Generally, it is only above 38.5 degrees that treatment is considered. It is not necessary to systematically treat the fever, especially if it is well tolerated by the child. Otherwise, the child must be relieved.

Childhood fever: when should you consult?

If the fever persists for several days or if signs (dejected child, child who is less reactive, etc.) indicate that it is poorly tolerated, a consultation may be justified. If the fever is greater than or equal to 41 degrees, you must consult the doctor urgently.

In children under 3 months, immediate consultation is required in case of fever, to diagnose the cause.

Should we worry in the event of a seizure?

It is very rare for a seizure to occur during a rise in fever. Only one in 20 children under the age of 5 is affected.

A fever-related seizure only lasts a few moments but is very impressive. The child loses consciousness. He is suddenly shaken by generalized muscular spasms: he shakes his limbs in a jerky and involuntary way, then he quickly returns, in a few minutes, to his normal state. In the vast majority of cases, the crisis is without consequence and it is not proven that antipyretic drugs (aspirin, paracetamol) can prevent it. However, after an initial seizure, it is important to see a doctor immediately to make sure the fever is not the result of another serious infection.

What are the first steps to take?

Before giving an antipyretic medicine (aspirin, paracetamol) to your child, you must first adopt a few simple reflexes which are enough in many cases to bring down the fever.

With the continuous reassessment of medical practices, some recommendations have been refined or revised. Some have retained all their relevance, others have now changed. The reflexes to keep: -To drink, as often as possible and more than usual, drinks that the child accepts easily; -Do not overheat the room (about 18-20°C). New reflexes to adopt: -Remove superfluous layers of clothing (or blankets) so that the heat can be evacuated more easily from the child's body; however, it is necessary to act without excess, by not removing all the clothes to the point of causing chills. Reflexes to change: - Giving a lukewarm bath (at a temperature below 2°C of that of the child), applying wet wraps or ice packs is now considered ineffective.

On the contrary, it can even increase the child's "unhappiness". It is therefore no longer recommended to systematically give a lukewarm bath to bring down the fever. However, it can be considered if the child likes the bath and it does not affect his comfort.

What drugs can be used against fever in children?

To lower the temperature of the child, we can use:

-Paracetamol which is most commonly used in France. This treatment combines efficacy and safety if the doses are respected.-Ibuprofen and ketoprofen. Delivered only on prescription, they both belong to the class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).-Aspirin is also an NSAID, but which, in recent years, has been used much less in children.

Childhood fever: some precautions before giving medication

1- In children under 3 months, only paracetamol and aspirin can be used. However, immediate consultation in case of fever is necessary to diagnose the cause. 2- The four antipyretics that can be used in children over 6 months (paracetamol, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, aspirin) exist under many names and in different forms (for example in syrup, suppositories, sachets, etc.). Thus, before giving him medicine to lower his fever, it is essential to check with your pharmacist or your doctor that your child has not already received the same medicine in another form or another brand.

Can we alternate or combine several antipyretics?

No study has been able to demonstrate the benefit of alternating or combining antipyretics. Still widely used in practice (such as, for example, the alternation of aspirin and paracetamol), they are now called into question by health authorities. Indeed, they complicate the analysis in the event of an adverse effect. It is therefore better to give only one medicine to lower the fever, unless your doctor advises otherwise.

How to use antipyretics?

In case of fever in children, you must respect the doses and the time between doses (generally every 6 hours, i.e. four doses per day), indicated by your doctor or pharmacist.

In addition, do not forget to tell your doctor how your child will be cared for. He will thus be able to adapt the dosage of the treatment accordingly. Be careful, the child grows very quickly! An antipyretic dosage valid during the last bout of fever will no longer be valid for the next. It is therefore necessary to remember to ask your doctor for the right dosage each time you use medication. Avoid aspirin or NSAIDs:-If the child has chickenpox-If the child is dehydrated (severe diarrhea and vomiting)-If the child has liver or kidney disease-Avoid aspirin before a flu-like illness.-Check the contraindications, the precautions for use and the expiry date of the medicine before giving it to your child. Antibiotics have no effect on fever in case of viral infections such as the flu or nasopharyngitis. Remember, "antibiotics are not automatic"! Source: L'Assurance Maladie