An increase in body temperature is a sign of a general malaise of the body, while the presence of an inflammatory process is not necessary. Perhaps the child just overworked. In which case and how to give an antipyretic? It all depends on age and the specific situation. You always need to consult a specialist who will prescribe therapy for the child.
When to bring down the temperature?
The most common cause of fever is the common cold and its varieties. High temperature is a sign that the body is actively fighting the causative agent of the disease. Often, after re-temperatureing one day, the child wakes up in good condition and is practically healthy. This can be during teething in the baby.
Safe for body systems is considered a temperature of up to 38.5 ° C, if the child does not suffer from seizures or epilepsy. As soon as the indicator exceeds this level, it is recommended to measure it for half an hour, if there is no fall, you need to drink an antipyretic.
If the child does not tolerate heat, it can be brought down much earlier, this is especially true with complex treatment. In this case, it is not a necessary element for defeating the causative agent of malaise, medicines will cope with the temperature. Antipyretic drugs at high temperatures in children are necessary to avoid complications and comfortable transfer of the disease.
What temperature to bring down in an infant?
For newborns and in the first month of life, the temperature is considered to be the norm up to 37.5 ° C, if the child at the same time sleeps well, eats, does not worry. Often such a change is associated with a lack of milk in the mother or entangling crumbs. It is important to know that newborns have an accelerated metabolism: where an adult is warm, they are hot. And young mothers, because of the general weakness of the body, become chilly and think that the baby is also cold.
After vaccination, the same temperature is considered the border at which you need to use an antipyretic. The medical institution always advises about precautions during this period: often take the drug half an hour after the procedure, even without measuring the temperature. During this period, frequent attachment to the chest is recommended.
The temperature of 38.5 ° C is also considered to be the threshold for infants. If the child is hot, but there are no visible reasons for this, a doctor’s call is mandatory. In newborns, ears are easily inflamed: they cannot be disturbed after bathing with cotton buds, thus an infection is brought in, getting wet with a towel is enough.
Antipyretic candles
For children up to a year, it is most convenient to use candles. Thanks to this form, all the necessary dosage enters the body and is absorbed as quickly as possible. A huge advantage of antipyretic candles for children is the possibility of introducing them during sleep. This is a very important indicator when choosing a drug even for older children. During the illness, they are very capricious and refuse to take even sweet syrups, and I do not want to wake them at night to take the drug.
Due to the high temperature, some children have frequent and loose stools, in which case the use of candles is impossible. An antipyretic syrup will help for children, it is suitable for 3 months and even for adults, depending on the composition of the medication.
Suppositories can be based on the usual paracetamol and ibuprofen, herbal remedies and immunomodulatory components. The latter do not have an antipyretic effect, they stimulate the body's production of antibodies to combat the pathogen. Their advantage is the possibility and safety of taking at a very low temperature, when there are first signs of the disease. With immunomodulators, the disease will go away with minimal discomfort.
Antipyretic syrups
After a year, not all children easily tolerate the procedure for introducing candles. What antipyretic can children of this age have? During this period, syrups will come to the aid of parents. The vast majority of suspensions are flavored with fruit flavors. Parents of children with diathesis are afraid of such drugs. In fact, the composition of antipyretic syrups is not dangerous for allergy sufferers. Sweet suspensions are easier to give to capricious children with illness.
Bottles come with a measuring spoon or syringe - this factor can also become a determining factor when choosing. Taking the drug through a syringe is more convenient, it is impossible to spill and transfuse the syrup.
The composition of antipyretic for a child is different:
- paracetamol;
- ibuprofen;
- paracetamol + ibuprofen;
- vegetable.
Ibuprofen additionally has an anti-inflammatory effect, which is its main advantage over the competitor. The next plus - the drug is valid for up to eight hours. However, pediatricians are more confident about paracetamol-based drugs, whose effectiveness and safety have been proven by time. Their action is only four hours. Complex drugs are more effective and preferable if they have not been tested in the case of "single drugs" before.
Herbal anti-inflammatory syrups can be taken at the first sign of a cold, when there is no increase in lymph nodes. Their action does not have an antipyretic effect, but at a low temperature, their intake will help the body cope with the causative agent of the disease.
Antipyretic tablets
The advantage of the tablet form of antipyretics is their price and the absence of additives. However, their intake is inconvenient for children under five years of age, only after this age the child is able to swallow pills. But even more adult patients can refuse this.
Tablets are recommended from the age of three, but before use they must be crushed and dissolved to a uniform consistency, which is not simple and inconvenient. Pediatricians allow taking a quarter of “Paracetamol" - a good antipyretic for children, which should always be in the medicine cabinet in case the preferred form of release is not available for one reason or another.
"Paracetamol" - the only tablets that are acceptable for use by young children. Manufacturers of other antipyretic drugs do not recommend a tablet form for babies.
The absence of flavorings in the composition can be an advantage, since a child whimsical during an illness sometimes happens to refuse sweet syrups. Taste buds are aggravated, and a pronounced taste can cause disgust and vomiting.
What form of release to choose?
It is important to know that antipyretic drugs at a temperature in children do not have a therapeutic effect. So what is better to give the child in the heat? Or should you refrain from taking medications at all? Each case requires an individual approach, it all depends on the situation and general recommendations of the pediatrician in relation to a particular patient.
At home, parents decide which antipyretic to give the child. In a hospital hospital, doctors prescribe injections to patients of all age categories, because it is they who are in the cost estimate of the institution. Injections are unpleasant, all children are afraid of them, but they are much more effective than any other antipyretic forms. If there is no desire to inject additional drugs, the parent has the right to refuse the procedure, asking the doctor to replace the treatment. In this case, medicines will be purchased at their own expense, so it is prudent to take your antipyretic to the hospital.
Drug Overview
Consider the widespread antipyretic drugs at a temperature in children. By composition, they can be divided into groups:
- "Paracetamol" and analogues: "Efferalgan", "Kalpol", "Dolomol", "Fervex", "Dofalgan", "Cefecon", "Motrin". Contraindications to taking drugs: individual intolerance, kidney and liver diseases, blood diseases. Side effects in the form of an allergic reaction, nausea, vomiting are possible.
- Ibuprofen and analogues: Nurofen, Ibufen. Contraindications: individual intolerance, bronchial asthma, rhinitis, indigestion, renal and liver failure. Adverse reactions of the body in the form of nausea, vomiting, headache, urticaria, tachycardia occur extremely rarely, with a general weakening and predisposition of the body to such complications.
- Integrated: Ibuklin, Brustan.
- Vegetable: Viburkol, Tylenol, Minduzal. Contraindication - high child allergy. The same item is indicated in the instructions as a side effect. Of course, in the medicine cabinet of young parents, in addition to antipyretic drugs, there should be antihistamines, in which case it will not be scary to try a highly effective, but allergenic drug.
- Alternative: Papaverine, Nimesulide. They are prescribed only by a doctor in difficult cases with a stable temperature. Side effects: drowsiness, constipation. Contraindications: age up to 3 months, renal failure.
- Injection: drugs for intramuscular administration as prescribed by a doctor in cases where the temperature does not drop from other means.
If one of the drugs is ineffective for half an hour, you can use a medication from another group that is different in composition. In case of an allergic reaction, an age-recommended antihistamine should be given.
Parent reviews
Some parents note that after vaccination they put antipyretic candles "Nurofen" for their babies for half an hour. Unfortunately, they did not live up to expectations: they irritated and naturally came back, not having time to dissolve and dissolve. Another thing is with syrup of the same brand. Children with pleasure drank it. The temperature dropped quickly and did not rise.
Many parents admit that their children, even at the age of five, are not able to drink pills, so they buy medicines in the form of syrups. Others note that due to the peculiarities of the baby’s body, only the complex “Ibuklin” helps to cope with the heat.
For some, Viburkol candles became a real salvation during teething in a child. In addition to the analgesic effect, they have a calming and anti-inflammatory effect. It is very convenient to introduce a candle to a sleeping baby.
Some parents say that Fervex powder was the best antipyretic for children from 6 years old. It has a pleasant taste and aroma.
All antipyretic for a child have both positive and negative reviews. You should not pay attention to them, because each organism is individual and reacts differently to treatment. Only after trying the medication, you can choose the best drug for the child.
When to call a doctor?
For children under one year old, when the temperature rises, calling a doctor at home is considered the norm. The crumbs still can not talk about their concern, and parents can not understand what is the cause of the temperature, you need a professional look. In babies up to a year old, the temperature can occur due to a number of reasons: inflammation of the auricle or throat, indigestion, teething, stomatitis, infection of the genitals, overheating.
Often parents refer to teething, as the child is active and satisfied throughout the day. You should not be so frivolous about the health of the baby, a complicated disease will have to be treated much longer. Inflammation can cover a greater number of tissues and organs with untimely treatment. Antipyretic drugs give only a symptomatic effect, without additional medications they can be used for no more than three days.
Antipyretic drugs at high temperatures can be given to children without prescription. For babies up to a year, let's say one day of heat without the supervision of a doctor, for older children, you can take medications without prescribing up to three days.
Other temperature help
First aid for heat - drinking plenty of fluids and humidifying indoor air. Frequent airing and wet cleaning are the key to a quick recovery. You can drink any liquid that the child prefers. Of course, vitamin decoctions and infusions of rosehip, chamomile, thyme, lemon are preferable. For babies up to a year, it is not worth introducing a new product at a temperature period, therefore it is good if the baby gets acquainted with useful herbs in advance, but according to age and quantity restrictions.
Sleep is the best cure for illness. But heat and pain deprive the child of a comfortable sleep. Before bedding, it is imperative to measure the temperature. In case of heat during sleep, you need to have antipyretic candles on hand so as not to wake the baby. In case of illness, you should not play noisy active games, a calm environment is preferable so that the baby can fall asleep at any time. Older children also need extra sleep for illness, but resist with all their might. In this case, you may have to lie down nearby and take a nap together.
Parental love and care are also significant factors for recovery, but it is important not to overdo it with the amount of drugs. Do not trust ads, the best adviser when a child has a fever is a doctor.
At what temperature to give an antipyretic to a child, the parent decides, depending on the well-being of the small patient. Each tolerates the temperature in different ways, but general recommendations do not allow exceeding the indicator of 38.5 ° C. The most effective drugs, depending on age, are obvious, but again individual preferences are possible. A good antipyretic for children is selected by each parent independently, according to general indications and contraindications, although it is better if the doctor does it. The doctor, having studied the anamnesis, will be able to select therapy according to the condition of the child, and if he is allergic, then he will have to take additional tests so as not to put the baby's life at risk.