Fever in children – our doctor can help if home remedies do not work or the fever persists

In children, it is normal for their body temperature to vary during the day depending on how much they move, what they are wearing, and the ambient temperature.

• The best way to take the child’s temperature is to measure it in the armpit.
• The usual limit for a high temperature in children is 37.5 degrees, measured in the armpit.
• Young children may experience a very high fever, up to 40°C. High fever in a child is not dangerous as such, as long as it can be lowered with antipyretics and the child’s fluid intake is sufficient.

It is important to lower fever in children. Here's how to do it at home:

• Paracetamol is the primary antipyretic for children. If the child has a high fever, you can also give ibuprofen or naproxen, available by prescription, if necessary.
• Cold drinks are a nice way to cool down. Fever also increases the need for fluids, so sufficient fluid intake is essential. Juices are a good source of energy if the child does not want to eat.
• Dressing your child in light clothing helps to lower the body temperature.
• Cooling the room temperature, for example, through ventilation, may be a good idea.
• Cold compresses, using damp cloths, are a nice way to cool down.
• Remove any thick covers from the child’s bed and offer a light blanket instead.

When your child has fever, you should consult a doctor if:

• your child is a baby under three months old
• home care does not help to lower the fever
• the fever continues for more than a week
• the child’s general condition deteriorates
• the child has problems with peeing
• the child has an earache
• the child has a severe headache
• the child has severe abdominal pain
• the child has fever frequently.

If you a worried about fever in your child, you should take your child to see a paediatrician, as further tests are often necessary to find out what is causing the high temperature.

A child's fever can be caused by a variety of reasons:

• Viral flu is the most common cause of fever in children.
• A bacterial infection, such as an ear infection, bronchitis, or sinusitis, can also cause fever.
• Pneumonia , which can be caused by a virus or a bacterium.
• Inflammatory diseases such as rheumatism or the rare Kawasaki disease may cause recurring fever in children.
• Pediatric cancers, such as lymphomas and leukaemia, are rare causes of persistent fever in children. However, it is good to bear in mind that cancers cause other symptoms as well, such as pain in the limbs, abdominal bloating and swelling in the lymph nodes.

Children under school age may develop a febrile seizure. The seizure can seem frightening, especially when it occurs for the first time. The reassuring thing is that the child is not in danger during the febrile seizure.

This is good to know about febrile convulsion seizure in children:

• Symptoms. The limbs become stiff and twitch, shake, or have jerking movements during the febrile seizure, and some children go limp. The child’s eyes wander and the child will not respond or look at you.
• Duration. Febrile seizures usually last for no more than a couple of minutes.
• Treatment. Keep your child safe and prevent them from injuring themselves, put your child in the recovery position (on their side) and make sure that they can breathe freely.
• See the doctor. Medical help by a doctor is needed when your child has a febrile seizure for the first time or has a seizure that lasts for more than five minutes or feels unwell after the seizure.

The specialist for this was our paediatrician, Laura Pöyhönen.