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Fevers in Children

Your child wakes up in the middle of the night crying. You rush into her room and pick her up to soothe her. You start to panic because she literally appears to be on fire with fever. How serious is this and what should you do?

Mother taking her child's body temperature.

Many parents needlessly worry about their children’s fevers. What few realize is that a fever is the body’s natural response to an infection. A fever in and of itself is not a disease; it’s the body’s defense mechanism in response to an illness. A fever lets the immune system know to produce antibodies to fight the infection. Interfering with this process may prevent the immune system from doing its job.

Many parents, fearful that a fever can cause seizures, brain damage or worse, over-medicate their children with ibuprofen and acetaminophen products. Seizures are rare in fevers less than 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Celsius).

What can a parent do for a child with a fever?

  • Give your child plenty of fluids to keep him/her from becoming dehydrated. Dehydration can raise the fever even higher. Check to make sure your baby has at least 8-10 wet diapers per day or that your older child goes to the bathroom at least every four hours.

  • If the child is also nauseous, make sure you give the child sips through a dropper.

  • Don’t force-feed the child, or make him/her eat when they are not hungry.

  • Dress, or undress, your child to keep them comfortable.

Keep in mind that the body is self-regulating. Fevers really do serve a purpose – to keep those “bugs” at bay!

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Dr Todd Asks some important questions of interest to Amarillo residents - Chiropractor Amarillo Dr Todd Asks...

Why is a "slipped disc" unlikely?
Separating each spinal vertebra is a disc. Its fibrous outer ring holds in a jelly-like material. Because of the way a disc attaches to the spinal bones above and below it, it can't actually "slip." However, a disc can bulge, tear, herniate, thin and collapse. But it can't slip.
What is the significance of "growing pains?"
Chiropractors know that aches or pains at any age mean something's not right. In fact, many children go through stages of growth without aches or pains. So while "growing pains" may be common, they're not normal. That's why our Amarillo chiropractic practice sees lots of children. A chiropractic checkup for your child can often help detect and correct problems that are more difficult to correct in Amarillo adults.