A child that is ill, in pain or has a high fever can be very scary and even traumatic for any parent. However, good
news for all parents and especially first time parents, with knowledge comes the confidence and calm to recognise and care for your child when they are suffering from pain or fever. Grasp every opportunity to improve your knowledge on how to react and care for your child or even a child you are looking after, when they suddenly develop a high fever or complain of pain.
What is fever? Fever is often the first sign of a child being sick. Fever can range from a mild
infection, which can resolve on its own to a potentially serious or life-threatening bacterial infection. The most common cause of fever in a child is sudden onset of a viral infection, for instance tonsillitis.
Take your child immediately to a medical practitioner when they:
Are less than 4 months old;
Have a depressed immune system from illness such as cancer;
Show any worrying sign such as confusion, neck stiffness or a rash;
Have difficulty breathing, are dehydrated or have underlying heart or lung disease; and Continue to have a fever without it subsiding.
The golden rule, whenever you are not satisfied with your child’s condition, seek medical advice straight away.
When you give your child fever-reducing medication makes sure: It works quickly and keeps temperature down;
Has proven safety in children; and
Has added benefits such as the ability to reduce pain and inflammation.
Take additional steps to reduce fever and increase your child’s comfort by: Sponging them with tepid water;
Giving liquid drinks to prevent dehydration; and
Loosening tight clothing and removing any excess clothes.
What is pain? Pain is an unpleasant feeling which the body experiences in reaction to injury or damage to the body;
A sudden onset of pain is one of the most common symptoms that children experience; and
Common causes of pain in children include infections (of the middle -ear, throat, mouth, etc.) and injuries (sprains, strains, broken bones or burns).
A young child expresses distress differently to adults and cannot describe it properly. Listen to what they say – a child from 4 years old and up will be able to explain that they are in pain. Watch how they behave: look to see if they are moving the body normally, what their facial expression is and whether they are crying. Watch to see how they are reacting to pain – some experience sweating, vomiting or may become pale.
When should you take a child who is in pain to a medical practitioner? Do not delay, take your child immediate for medical attention when they:
Persistently complain of pain that does not go away;
Avoid moving the body in certain ways;
Are sweating, pale or vomiting;
Are agitated or the opposite (withdrawn, non- responding, subdued, etc.); and
Have an obvious cause for the pain such as a fall or a burn.
Give your child pain-relieving
medicine to increase their comfort while you try to find out what caused the pain. When giving pain-relieving medicine, make sure:
It is given by mouth – children prefer oral medicine – in fact children can deny they have pain in fear of injections;
It works fast to control pain as soon as possible; and; Has proven safety in children.
Remember to comfort children and give them reassurance when they are in pain. Distract pain by playing smoothing music or reading stories. Cold or hot packs and massaging may also reduce pain and anxiety.
In conclusion, make sure you as parents are geared to handle your children’s fever and pain in such a manner that it would actually have a calming impact on them. If you are going toshow anxiety it would only complicate the matter and make it far worse than it actually is.