Is it better to use a cold towel or a hot towel when a child has a fever?

There is a saying passed down by the elderly: The traditional concept is that when a child has a fever, the child should be wrapped tightly with clothes and quilts to "force" the sweat out. In fact, this is wrong, because when children have a fever, they will shiver, and parents will think that their children are cold. In fact, this is because their body temperature rises and causes spasms. However, some parents are afraid that applying cold water to their children's faces will aggravate the condition. So, should we use a cold towel or a hot towel when children have a fever?

When a child has a fever, you should help him or her cool down physically. The following are some common methods: 1. Cold and 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 your forehead, and change it every 3-5 minutes.

2. Ice pillow

When your baby has a high fever, you can make an ice pillow for him to use as a pillow, which is both comfortable and effective. Go to the hospital and buy an ice pack (not a hot water bottle). Pour the ice into a basin, break it into small pieces, rinse off the edges with water, put them into an ice bag, add 50 to 100 ml of water (do not fill it up, 2/3 full will be enough), expel the air, clamp the bag, wrap it with cloth or towel and place it under the baby's head and neck as a pillow. When the ice cubes melt, you can replace them and the baby's body temperature will drop soon.

3. 35% alcohol bath

Alcohol can dilate blood vessels and take away a lot of heat when it evaporates, which can help cool down infants and young children when they have a fever. Prepare 100 ml of 75% alcohol, add an equal amount of warm water, and keep the temperature at around 27-37 degrees Celsius. Do not let it be too cold, otherwise it will cause muscle contraction, causing the temperature to rise again. When doing alcohol bath, use a small towel to start wiping the baby's neck, then wipe from top to bottom in a patting manner. The armpits, groin, and areas with large arteries and blood vessels on the surface of the body should be wiped until the skin turns slightly red, which will help reduce the temperature. Be careful not to rub the baby's chest, abdomen, and soles of the feet to avoid causing adverse reactions.

4. Take a warm bath

Taking a bath can help dissipate heat. If your baby is in good spirits when he has a fever, you can give him more baths and adjust the water temperature between 27 and 37 degrees Celsius. Be careful not to give your baby a hot bath, otherwise it will easily cause vasodilation throughout the body, increase oxygen consumption, easily lead to ischemia and hypoxia, and aggravate the condition.

5. Soak your feet in hot water

Soaking your feet can promote blood circulation and relieve discomfort. Another benefit of soaking your baby's feet when he has a fever is that it can help reduce the temperature. You can use a large basin or a small bucket for foot soaking. Pour 2/3 of the basin with water. The water temperature should be slightly higher than usual, around 40 degrees Celsius, and it should be based on what the baby can adapt to. When soaking the baby's feet, the mother can rub the baby's two little feet, which can not only dilate the blood vessels but also relieve the discomfort caused by fever.

Therefore, regarding the view of whether to use a cold towel or a hot towel when a child has a fever, from the perspective of physical cooling, a cold towel should be chosen, but you should not wipe the whole body with a cold towel. The child should also be bathed with warm water because a bath can help dissipate heat. After reading the above content, I believe that mothers and fathers will have their own opinions on whether to use a cold towel or a hot towel when a child has a fever.