What to do if a child has a fever of 38 degrees

Colds and fevers are common for children, and parents need to take careful care of them. They must also pay close attention to the child's fever. What should you do if a child has a fever of 38 degrees? At this time, if the child is not too abnormal, is in good spirits, can eat and sleep well, there is no need to rush to give the child antipyretics. Physical cooling can be used, and using a fever patch is a good method.

What to do if your baby has a fever of 38 degrees

For babies, fever is a common occurrence. Generally, it is not a big deal if the baby has a fever. It is a normal phenomenon.

When a baby has a fever, if the baby is less than six months old, he should be sent to the hospital immediately; in general, if the baby's fever is below 38.5℃, it is recommended to use only physical methods to help the baby cool down. Only give your baby antipyretics when the body temperature exceeds 38.5℃.

1. Wear less clothes to allow your child to dissipate heat.

The traditional idea is that when a baby has a fever, he or she should be wrapped tightly in a quilt to "force" out the sweat. In fact, this is wrong. When babies have a fever, they shiver because their rising body temperature causes convulsions.

2. Physical cooling of baby's fever:

(1) Cold wet compress on the head: Soak a soft towel in 20℃-30℃ cold water, squeeze it slightly to prevent dripping, fold it and place it on the forehead, changing it every 3-5 minutes.

(2) Head ice pillow: Fill an ice bag halfway with small ice cubes and a small amount of water, expel the air from the bag, press the bag tightly, and place it on the pillow to prevent any water leakage.

(3) Wipe with warm water or take a warm bath: Use a warm, wet towel to wipe the child’s head, armpits, and limbs or take a warm bath, scrub the skin more often to promote heat dissipation.

(4) Alcohol bath: suitable for cooling down high fever. Prepare 200-300 ml of 20%-35% alcohol and use it to rub the limbs and back.

3. Drink plenty of water. When a baby has a high fever, his breathing speeds up and sweating will cause the body to lose a lot of water, so parents should give the baby plenty of water when he has a fever, increase urine volume, and promote the excretion of toxins in the body.