Healthy children have a body temperature between 36.5°C (97.7°F) and 37.5°C (99.5°F). This temperature changes over the course of the day: It is usually about 0.5°C higher in the evening than it is in the morning. Normal body temperature is generally thought of as 37°C, although anything between 36.5°C and 37.5°C is considered normal . However, once your temperature hits 38°C, you have officially got a fever.
Fever’s are primarily a sign of infection by a microbial invader (germ, bacteria or virus).
Thus it is the policy of this daycare and every other daycare or school setting to have an exclusion period of 24 hours when your child has a fever. They are fighting an infection and may be contagious.
A child with a fever usually won’t need to take fever-reducing medication. In fact it is best to allow the fever to run its course because this is the bodies natural immune system fighting off the virus or infection. A fever actually helps the body destroy its microbial invader. It also stimulates an inflammatory response, which sends all kinds of substances to the area of infection to protect the area, prevent the spread of the invader and start the healing process.
In a study of 72 children, those who weren’t given drugs known to reduce fever recovered faster. Likewise, a study of 56 people infected with one of the viruses that causes the common cold found that those who took certain fever-reducing drugs remained infectious for longer.
The decision to use fever reducing medication should be primarily based on managing your child’s comfort.
More info read “The Fever Paradox”
It can be very scary as a parent or caregiver to see your child with a fever. There are many myths about fever, and some of these myths may make you more worried than you need to be. If your child has a fever, the most important thing is how your child looks and acts, not the number on the thermometer.
Myth: Fever needs to be treated with medication
The fever is a sign that the body is fighting off an infection. The fever itself is not dangerous and does not need to be treated. Children with a fever are often uncomfortable, so medication should be used to make your child more comfortable when they have a fever. If your child is comfortable with a fever (either awake or sleeping) you do not need to give them fever medication.
Myth: The exact number of the temperature determines how sick my child is
The most important part of assessing a child with fever is how the child looks and acts, especially after treating the fever with medication. For example, a child who appears well but has a high temperature is less concerning than a child who only has a mild fever, but who appears unwell or not waking up properly or able to drink fluids. Some viral illnesses like the flu may trigger high fevers, while some serious bacterial infections may be associated with an abnormally low body temperature. Just because a fever is higher or lower, does not help the health-care provider to decide which child needs antibiotics. It is useful to measure your child’s temperature so you can keep a record of the number of days of fever.
Myth: Fevers cause brain damage
One of many parents’ biggest worries is that a high fever can cause brain or organ damage. Fevers caused by infections are less than 42°C (107.6°F). These fevers do not cause brain damage. Only a persistent body temperature greater than 44°C (111.2°F), which a person might get from heat stroke or after exposure to certain street drugs or medications, such as anaesthetic or some psychiatric medications, can cause brain damage.
Myth: Fevers are bad for children
A fever is a sign that the body’s immune system is fighting an infection. Fevers help to fight infections because many germs do not survive as well at slightly higher body temperatures. So, most fevers have a beneficial effect despite your child’s discomfort. The main reason to use medication is to make the child feel better.
Myth: Fevers should always respond to ibuprofen or acetaminophen
These medications help make children feel more comfortable but may only reduce the fever by 1°C to 2°C (2°F to 3°F) and may not bring the temperature down to normal. Sometimes a fever continues even after giving ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Just because the medication does not bring your child’s temperature down to normal, does not mean there is a more dangerous cause to the fever.
Myth: Fevers should respond quickly to antibiotics
Antibiotics are only useful in treating bacterial infections. The antibiotic will start working to fight the bacteria as soon as your child takes it, but it may take two to three days before the fever goes away. Antibiotics will not make your child feel better or make their fever go away if they have a viral infection. Since most infections in children are caused by viruses, an antibiotic will be of no use in these cases.
Myth: Treating the fever will prevent febrile seizures
In all the research that examines ways to prevent febrile seizures, treating the fever with medications will not prevent febrile seizures and it is not necessary to use medications for this purpose. Febrile seizures usually run in families and are more likely to happen at the beginning of your child’s infection. Sometimes febrile seizures happen before you even know that your child is getting a fever.