Top 9 mistakes to avoid when your child has a high fever

Some parents become overly worried and administer fever-reducing medicine as soon as their child starts to feel hot, without even checking the temperature. However, if the fever is below 38°C, it's rarely a serious concern and doesn't require medicine. Taking medicine at this point could be detrimental, as it adds unnecessary strain on the liver and kidneys.

Special caution is needed when giving fever medicine to children under 3 months old. Always consult a doctor before administering medication. For infants and children under 3 years old, physical methods like lukewarm baths or using cooling patches should be prioritized. Medication should be used cautiously as it can lead to dehydration or stomach and intestinal issues that could impact the child’s long-term health.

When children experience a high fever, many parents immediately request fever-reducing injections or infusions. However, in reality, such treatments are rarely necessary. Most fevers are caused by viral infections, which are self-limiting. Therefore, parents need not worry as the fever will subside on its own without injections or infusions.

Infusions and injections only add unnecessary pain, fear, and financial costs, while also affecting the child’s psychological well-being and rest time.

If a child has a high fever for an extended period (over 7 days), is reluctant to drink fluids, or finds it difficult to take medicine, parents should consider using infusions or injections. During this time, the primary goal of administering injections or infusions is to replenish fluids, prevent dehydration, and provide electrolytes to the child’s body.

Scraping is a widely practiced folk remedy. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, scraping is also considered a therapeutic procedure but should be performed by a qualified doctor based on the patient’s specific condition. Scraping typically targets areas such as both sides of the spine, from the shoulders to the lower back, along the upper spine, and along the arms, focusing on the front and inner sides of the palms.

However, scraping is effective only for colds, and for other causes of fever (such as infections), it has little to no impact. Particularly for children, scraping should never be performed. A child’s skin is delicate and thin, making it highly susceptible to bruising, and their circulation is weak, so they cannot tolerate the high temperatures involved in scraping.

Parents often place ice in a plastic bag or wrap it in fabric, then apply it to the child’s sides near the armpits. While this method cools the skin where the ice is applied, it can also lead to ice burns. Additionally, it constricts blood vessels, preventing the skin’s pores from opening to release body heat. The cool feeling from the ice does not lower the fever, and the child may still have a high temperature.

Attempting to reduce a fever too quickly can also be dangerous. Rapid drops in body temperature can be harmful because a child’s body cannot handle such abrupt changes. Fever reduction should be gradual. Typically, fever-reducing medication begins working within 30 minutes, and the temperature gradually lowers over 1-2 hours.

Some parents suggest placing a loach on the child’s back to reduce fever, but this is not a scientifically proven method. In traditional medicine, loach is used as a remedy, but only when it is properly prepared (cooked or steamed) to be effective. Allowing a loach to crawl on a child's back, which is highly sensitive, could potentially lead to allergic reactions.

When a child has a high fever, many parents mistakenly dress them in multiple layers of clothes and cover them tightly with blankets hoping it will help them sweat and reduce the fever. However, this method is counterproductive. Excess heat can cause the child’s body temperature to rise quickly, which can lead to discomfort and even seizures. When a child has a high fever, the blood circulation is often poor, resulting in a hot head and body but cold hands and feet. In such cases, parents should loosen the child’s clothing, or even dress them in lighter clothes, and rub their legs until they warm up to help the body release heat and reduce the fever.

Some elderly people believe that a child with a fever should not bathe or use a fan or air conditioning for fear of getting cold and worsening the condition. However, this is an unscientific approach. In fact, soaking in warm water is an effective method for lowering a fever. If the child refuses to take a bath, using warm water to wipe their body works just as well. If the fever doesn’t go down after the first wipe, try again. This method can be even more effective than medication. Be sure to focus on wiping the groin, armpits, wrists, and ankles, as these areas help cool the body down rapidly.

Some parents believe that giving fever-reducing medication before seeing a doctor might interfere with the doctor’s diagnosis. However, this belief is incorrect. Parents should always keep a thermometer and fever medicine on hand while taking the child to the doctor or clinic. If the child’s fever exceeds 38.5°C, they can be given fever-reducing medication while awaiting the doctor’s examination. If the child has a history of febrile seizures, it’s essential to proactively manage the fever. In such cases, medication should be administered as soon as the fever reaches 38°C or even use suppositories if the child has a history of seizures. This approach helps prevent the child’s body temperature from rising too high and reduces the risk of seizures or convulsions.