Fever in children is a natural response of the body to infections and other health conditions. However, not all fevers are the same, and classifying fevers according to temperature levels can help parents correctly identify their child’s health condition and take appropriate measures.
Fever is one of the most common symptoms that children experience when they are sick. Classifying fever in children according to body temperature not only helps parents better understand their child’s condition but also supports more effective treatment.
What is fever in children?
Fever in children is a natural response of the body to many medical conditions, mainly infections. Children’s body temperature usually fluctuates between 36.5 – 37.5 degrees Celsius. When a child has a fever, the body temperature will exceed 38 degrees Celsius.
Fever is a natural response of the body.
The body maintains a normal temperature through a series of sophisticated regulatory mechanisms. Organs such as the brain, skin, muscles, and vascular system play an important role in controlling body temperature. Specifically, the body regulates body temperature by:
- Regulating the amount of sweat secreted through the skin: Sweat helps cool the body when the temperature increases.
- Changing blood flow to the skin’s surface: When the body needs to cool, blood will be directed closer to the skin’s surface to dissipate heat.
- Managing the amount of water in the body: Staying hydrated helps maintain the ability to regulate temperature and compensate for sweat loss.
- Regulating the environmental temperature: Moving your child into a cool environment or adjusting the room temperature can help lower body temperature.
It is important to note that a child’s body temperature can change throughout the day. Body temperature tends to be lower in the morning and higher in the evening. An increase in body temperature can also occur when a child is very active, such as when playing or exercising. These changes are normal physiological responses and are not a sign of a pathological fever.
Recognizing and understanding these responses can help parents differentiate between fevers that require medical attention and normal physiological changes in body temperature.
Classifying Children’s Fever by Body Temperature
A child’s body temperature is regulated by the hypothalamus in the brain, and usually remains stable throughout the day. A child’s normal body temperature is usually between 36 and 37.4 degrees Celsius.
A fever occurs when the body temperature exceeds the normal range. To classify fever, we rely on the specific temperature level as follows:
- Mild fever: Body temperature ranges from 37.5 to 38 degrees Celsius.
- Moderate fever: Body temperature from 38 to 39 degrees Celsius.
- High fever: Body temperature from 39 to 40 degrees Celsius.
- Very high fever: Body temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius.
Body temperature can be measured in many different locations such as the ear, forehead, mouth, armpit and anus.n Note that the temperature measured in different locations is different: The temperature measured in the armpit is usually about 0.3 – 0.5 degrees Celsius lower than the temperature measured in the mouth or anus. Therefore, when the temperature measured in the armpit exceeds 37.2 degrees Celsius, this is often considered a sign of fever.
When fever is moderate, body temperature is from 38 to 39 degrees Celsius.
What to do when children have a fever?
When children have a fever, parents need to take measures to control the temperature and provide proper care:
Adjust the surrounding environment: First, check the child’s body temperature. Remove some clothes to help the child feel more comfortable, and let the child lie in a well-ventilated place and avoid drafts.
Cool the body: If the child has a high fever, you can put the child in a bathtub and use a warm towel (check the water temperature by dipping your elbow into the tub to feel the warm water equivalent to the baby’s bath temperature) to gently wipe the child’s entire body. Pay special attention to areas such as the forehead, armpits, groin, palms and soles of the feet. Place a warm towel on these areas or wipe repeatedly to help reduce the temperature.
Avoid using cold water: Some parents may think that cold water helps reduce fever quickly, but in fact, this can constrict peripheral blood vessels and pores, preventing body temperature from escaping, leading to shivering and higher fever. Therefore, avoid using cold water when wiping or bathing your child.
Monitor and adjust: Measure your child’s body temperature every 15 – 30 minutes when taking cooling measures. Stop wiping when your child’s temperature drops below 37.5 degrees Celsius. Then, dry your child and dress him or her in warm clothes.
Mothers should monitor their baby’s temperature regularly.
Caring for a child with a fever requires attention and patience to ensure that the child’s fever is reduced safely and effectively.
When to take the child to a medical facility?
When caring for a child with a fever at home, parents need to monitor if the child shows one or more of the following symptoms, you should take the child to a medical facility immediately for timely medical intervention:
- Infants under 3 months of age or children with a weakened immune system and a body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius.
- Children who are lethargic and difficult to wake up, this may indicate a serious deterioration in health.
- Pale or pale skin, a sign of lack of oxygen or shock.
- Cold hands and feet, indicating possible circulatory problems.
- Frequent vomiting, which can lead to severe dehydration and should be checked immediately.
- Children with fever and rash, which may be associated with serious infections.
- High-pitched wheezing sounds when breathing, a sign of respiratory problems or airway obstruction.
- Persistent crying, a sign of persistent discomfort or pain.
- Severe dehydration, recognized by signs such as dry mouth, decreased frequency of urination, or wrinkled skin.
- Body temperature that does not decrease despite taking fever-reducing medicine, need to check for the cause of uncontrolled fever.
- Stiff neck, can be a symptom of meningitis or other serious problems.
- Eye pain when exposed to light, can be a sign of meningitis or other serious problems.
- Persistent fever, if the fever lasts more than 1 day for children under 2 years old and more than 3 days for children 2 years old and older, need to be examined and treated at a medical facility.
When children show signs of prolonged high fever, they should be taken to a medical facility immediately.
These signs may indicate a serious health condition, and it is important to get your child to a medical facility early to ensure their safety and well-being.
Classifying a child’s fever by temperature is an important step in caring for a child with a fever. Knowing this information also helps parents know when to seek medical help to ensure their child’s health. Ultimately, proper and timely care can contribute to a child’s quick and safe recovery.