Pyrexia

Pyrexia simply is the higher temperature, above 38 degree Celsius. If fever is above 41.6 degree Celsius is life threatening. Fever in children is caused for the reaction against infection or for the physiological response to illness. The hypothalamus increases the body's temperature as a way to fight the infection. However, many conditions other than infections may cause a fever such as viral infection, bacterial infection, medications, illicit drugs, illness related to heat exposure. Signs and symptoms of fever may be obvious or subtle (the younger the child more subtle it be). In infants signs and symptoms would be, Irritable, fussy, lethargic, quiet, feel warm or hot, not feeding normally, cry, breathe rapidly, exhibit changes in sleeping or eating habits, seizure. Children who can speak may complain of feel of hotness, body aches, headaches, difficulty sleeping, and poor appetite. Parents should take child to hospital in case of not being able to control fever, if child is younger than 6 months, continuous vomiting, or diarrhea, sunken eyes, development of new symptoms. Immediately child has to take to emergency if child has seizure, purple or red rash, alteration in consciousness, breathing swallow, rapid or difficult, continuous headache, and continuous vomiting. Fever itself is not a disease but a physiological response to the disease so diagnosis is required. A diagnosis would require, chest x-ray from sideway and one from front to back, to find out if there is any problem with chest or heart or lung, if child is with cough, or chest pain or shortness of breath. A complete blood count, electrolyte and culture from blood sample will be done. (CBC is done to find out bacterial or viral infection and if immune system is working or not), Electrolyte is done to find out dehydration and electrolyte deficiency. Urine analysis is done to find out infection of urinary tract and dehydration. A lumbar puncture is done to find out CSF, if they suspect meningitis.

Caring of fever is done by given to reduce temperature, prevent dehydration, and monitor serious illness and life-threatening illness. To lower temperature, tapid/sponge bathing can be given (evaporation of water off the skin will lower the temperature), don’t overdress the children (over dressing will prevent cooling from radiation, evaporation, conduction, or convention), best way is leave the child with only one layer of cloth and then cover with bed sheet. Use the medication like acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra), and ibuprofen (advil, Mortin) to reduce fever. A warm bath can be given as well but not more than 10 minutes in one hour. To prevent from dehydration, give them enough clear fluid to drink (i.e. chicken soup, pedialyte or other drinks with electrolyte and glucose, not only water). Caffeine containing drink should not be given as it loose water through urination. Monitor for signs and symptoms after lowering and hydrating a child.

Viral infection of the respiratory symptom are most common cause of fever. It is treated with antipyretic and antianalgesic drug. Bed rest and adequate fluid intake is good. Bacterial infection will be treated with antibiotic drug. Urinary tract infection, ear infection, throat infection, sinus infection, skin infection, gastrointestinal infection, and pneumonia may be treated with antibiotic. If child is dehydrated, IV fluids will be given.

Prevention can be done by following general preventive techniques. Hand washing, covering mouth during sneezing, handling food with clean hand, proper immunization, eating healthy diet and getting enough sleep is preventive for fever.