FEVER IN CHILDREN

NAME : PITRI SARI NIM : PO.71.20.10.028

KEMENTERIAN KESEHATAN REPULBIK INDONESIA POLITEKNIK KESEHATAN PALEMBANG JURUSAN KEPERAWATAN 2011/2012

FEVER IN CHILDREN
A fever is the body's attempt to heal itself using heat for purposes of elimination via perspiration. A fever uses the body's skin and the function of perspiration to eliminate toxins from the body via the skin.

Medically speaking, a fever is elevation of body temperature. The natural human body temperature is 98.6 degrees. A body temperature over 100.4 is considered pathological, medically speaking.

A child is said to be a fever when their body temperature above 37.5 C in temperature measurement using the axillary mercury. The child's normal body temperature varies (0.5 to 1 C) throughout the day with temperatures rising slightly in the afternoon. Most of the fever which occurred in children is caused by a viral infection and is rarely caused by bacteria. Fever helps the body fight infection, improve immune system and produce more white blood cells to fight germs. The fear of the occurrence of febrile seizures when unnecessary, given that if at the time of febrile convulsions and even then not dangerous (see the topic about febrile seizures).

Before being taken to the doctor, parents can actually try to relieve fever at home first. Parents can give paracetamol to children with a drug dose of 10 mg / kg body weight each time delivery. Paracetamol can be given up to a maximum of 5 times a day (maximum 50 mg / kg body weight per day) with the distance between the provision of approximately 4 hours

The use of aspirin is not recommended because it can cause Reye's syndrome is dangerous. For compression sometimes parents are still confused whether to use hot water, cold water, or even alcohol. It is recommended to use warm water when compressing, because cold water can cause shivering child. Alcohol use to compress is not recommended because it can lead to alcohol poisoning due to alcohol can be absorbed into the blood through the skin. Do not forget to drink plenty of fluids and adequate rest during the child's fever.

Bring your child's fever to a doctor if:

less than 3 months old. Do not want to eat or swallow anything. Always crying when you touch it. a stiff neck. The temperature over 39 C. Fever has lasted three days. The child having a seizure. Vomiting. Children should get plenty of rest It would be more comfortable if your child is fitted with clothes that are not too thick If your child under the age of 3 months, do not give any medicine, and get to the doctor If your child over the age of three months, you can give paracetamol. If the fever is high enough, the doctor will give you other drugs such as ibuprofen. Lowering the fever with drugs is not necessarily cure the disease itself, but your child will be more comfortable.

If your child's temperature above 40 Celsius and hard fall, it is helpful if the child is given a bath towel
o Place the child in the room is not cold or windy o Prepare a basin of warm water in o Put a cloth or sponge and squeeze to keep it moist but not wet o basuhkan cloth or sponge to the entire body of a child o Children should be in a moist but not wet o Do not use ice water or cold water o Do not use air conditioning or fan

 Measure your child's temperature every four hours minimum Do not give aspirin to children or other medications that contain aspirin, unless specifically prescribed by a doctor for your child