cold compress on forehead for fever toddler

However, many of us may reach for a Tylenol or Ibuprofen to help alleviate the symptoms. It’s only when it reaches 100.4 F (38 C) that you reach full-blown fever mode.Ī fever is not an illness. If your temperature is just a degree or so above your normal body temp of 98.6 F (37 C), it’s considered a low-grade fever. The sweats, the shakes, the headaches, the chills, and all-over body fatigue – all the classic signs of a fever. And before you know it, you have a fever… The good news is that whenever your immune system detects any form of foreign invader, whether it be bacterial, viral or otherwise, it immediately leaps into action by increasing the body’s temperature to kill off any potential infection. Your only course of action is to get vaccinated against a specific virus.Įxamples of viral infections which can cause a fever are the common cold or flu, a coronavirus like COVID-19, SARS or MERS, dengue fever, rabies, norovirus, and hepatitis B. What’s more, it’s of absolutely no use popping pills as antibiotics do not work against viruses.

Viruses can’t survive for too long without a host - like your body - where they attach themselves to cells, reproducing and reprogramming these cells until they eventually die or, in some instances, land up diseased. Unlike bacteria, most viruses do cause disease. Some examples of bacterial infections which can cause a fever are a badly infected wound, strep throat, urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia, food poisoning, chickenpox and bacterial meningitis. Most of the ‘bad’ bacterial infections can be effectively treated with antibiotics. Most bacteria are harmless – the bulk of them actually help the body – and fewer than 1% of bacteria cause diseases in people. They are both caused by microbes – bacteria and viruses – and spread in similar ways: coughing and sneezing close contact with infected people touching contaminated surfaces, food or water and contact with animals or insects.īut there are also enormous differences between bacteria and viruses. But a fever could also arise as a result of other factors such as fungi, parasites and certain toxins.īacterial and viral infections have a number of things in common. Infections - most commonly either viral or bacterial - are the primary cause. And by popping a pill, you could be stopping this natural healing process.įind out how essential oils can safely and naturally reduce the symptoms and help break a fever while letting your body do what it does best… WHAT CAUSES A FEVER? They’re a symptom of your body very effectively doing its job. A fever is your body’s way of attacking all those foreign invaders to kill them off before they do you any harm. The bad news? A dreaded virus or bacteria has struck you down. And then there’s that energy-sapping all-over body fatigue… One minute you’re fine - and the next you’re alternating between being hotter than Hades and feeling as if you’ve been unceremoniously dunked in an ice pool. Over-the-counter acetaminophen can help reduce fever but should only be given to a newborn at the request of a medical professional.You may not want to pop any pills after reading this…Ī fever can be super scary. If the infant is 3 months or younger, call your pediatrician for advice. A sick baby is going to be fussy and may resist the idea, but it is crucial to avoid dehydration.ĭress your baby lightly bundling will only raise the temperature further.

Instead of ice packs, bathe the infant in lukewarm water. Therefore, exposing an infant to ice packs may raise the temperature even further when the baby starts to shiver. Shivering works to raise the body temperature. The shaking movement promotes friction that, in turn, produces heat. The body registers the cold exposure and tries to warm up.

Icing your infant does the opposite of what you would expect. Ice packs, or ice baths, are an old-school approach to bring down a high temperature.

Cold compress on forehead for fever toddler