High fever in children is one of the common causes of concerns amongst most parents at some time or the other. However fever on its own is not known to be life threatening and a cause for concern unless there is persistent fever in children which is high and is greater than 107 degree F (41.6 C). The hypothalamus is a part of the human brain which is responsible for controlling one’s body temperature. Hence the hypothalamus tends to increase the body temperature of an individual so as to fight off an infection. Some of the causes that result in child high fever are viral infections, bacterial infections, the use of certain medications, illnesses that arise on account of excessive exposure to heat and so on.
Some of the symptoms of a high fever in children are that they are irritable most of the time, lethargic, fussy, they do not feed as usual, cry often, are quieter than usual and feel hot or warm to the touch. High fever treatment for those children who are prone to chronic fever includes allowing the child to get as much rest as possible. The intake of fluids by the child should also be increased so as to prevent dehydration which could result in further complications. However, parents should also try giving their children ice cubes, ice chips and so on so as to maintain the fluid levels of the child. Persistent fever in children could be treated by giving the child a lukewarm bath and then dressing them up in some light clothing so as to help the child be comfortable and also enable them to get some relief from the fever symptoms. One of the ways wherein parents can prevent the child from picking up any viral or bacterial infection is to ensure that they wash their hands on a regular basis especially after using the bathroom, playing with or touching animals and before their meals.
Those children who are known to suffer from chronic fever which may also be accompanied with stiffness of the neck, sensitivity to lights as well as the inability to bend their neck could also be an indication of a meningitis infection. In such cases, one should immediately take the child to a doctor as an early treatment of meningitis is always preferable. In most cases a high fever in children as well as persistent fever in children is basically an indication of an underlying medical condition such as a cold or a viral infection. A child’s body tends to develop a fever so as to kill the germs and to also stimulate the immune system of the child to fight against the bacterial invasion. In most cases, persistent high fever in children may be on account of repeated colds or even viral infections. Similarly a relapse of infections like malaria, typhoid as well as tuberculosis may also result in the child suffering from persistent high fevers. Some of the other causes of high fever in children also include certain autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis as well as other hereditary disorders.
In some rare cases, persistent high fevers in children may also be caused by cancers such as kidney cancer. This could also then result in the formation of malignant tumors that in turn results in high fevers. One of the best ways to treat a persistent fever in children is to ensure that the child is consuming a healthy diet that is rich in plenty of fruits and vegetables. These foods provide the body with the necessary vitamins and minerals thereby strengthening the immune system of the child to fight of the various bacterial and viral infections that may be causing the fever.
answered by M W