Medicine for fever

Not all fevers are harmful. In fact , fever can be considered to be body's response to get rid of organisms faster. It helps in killing the organisms earlier. On the other hand, fever is associated with some unpleasant feelings and symptoms, such as body-ache. Some children have a tendency to develop convulsions with fever. Any fever should be treated promptly in children prone to develop convulsions in association with fever. Tepid sponging with tap water is one of the methods that the care giver can employ immediately, along with antipyretic therapy. Paracetamol is the best medicine for moderate to high fever. It is preferable after food as the side effects of acidity (gastritis) can be lesser. Tepid sponging aims at dissipation of heat through evaporation . Antipyretic like paracetamol should administered with sponging.

How to measure body temperature

Modes of temperature measurement:

Axillary temperature: Dry the armpit so that there is no moisture there. Place the thermometer in the child's armpit [axilla] for 2 min. Check the height of mercury column in the thermometer.

Oral temperature: May be taken if the child is more than 5 years of age. Younger children may bite or break the thermometer.Even in older children it is cumbersome and many children do not co-operate. Place the thermometer's bulb-end in the mouth for two minutes.Check the height of mercury column for determining the oral temeperature.

Rectal : This is mainly used by health care professionals. Digital / tympanic thermometer. Forhead thermometer : The strip is kept over forehead. It is a convenient method that can be used even when the child is not co-operating. There is no risk of injury and can be used in children aged three years or younger.

cold items

Cold is caused by hundreds of viruses and by allergy. Hence it is common. Apart from the inconvenience it causes, it is not really harmful. It is a self-limited illness that lasts for about 3-5 days. Since it is self-limiting, cold does not need any trearment. Antibiotics are of no use. Steam-inhalation may help. If the child had nose block, nasal saline drops may be used. If the child has allergy, antihistamines may be required. These medications should be taken only on the advice of your doctor. Avoiding exposure to dust, pollen, pollution, etc, can prevent cold occuring due to allergy. Other types of cold cannot be prevented.

Food restrictions

Most diarrheas are self limiting in 3-5 days. Hence drugs apart from oral rehydration solution are not necessary. Breat feedig should be continued in diarrhea. Breast feeding does not increase the duration/ frequency of diarrhea. Breast milk, in fact , provides water and nutrition to the child and decreases the occurrence of diarrhea by providing the child with immune substances. Most breast fed babies prefer it, as it is easy to digest. Food-restrictions are not necessary in diarrhea. As noted earlier, breast feeding can be continued. Child can be offered whatever food he wants to take in addition to the fluids. Due to illness, a child's appetite may be poor. Food should not be forced on him/her. This will lead to vomiting. Instead, it is prudent to offer small amounts more frequently.If food is not restricted , the weight loss during diarrhea can be minimized.

How should Diarrhea be treated?

Most diarrhea episodes are self-limited and are caused by viruses.The most dreadful consequence of diarrhea is dehydration. Hence the management of diarrhea concentrates on prevention and treatment of diarrhea.The child should be given plenty of fluids so that his/her stool losses are replenished.Plain water is not a good solution, as the losses of electrolytes need to be replenished too. Oral rehydration fluid is the best solution to offer. Home-made fluids such as buttermilk, dal water, rice, kanji, coconut water and lemon juice are satisfactory substitutes. Breast fed infants should be nursed frequently and should be offered breast milk. A close watch should be kept on the child's activity and behavior. A note should be kept of the number of stools passed as also the number of times he/she has passed urine. This gives an idea about the child's hydration status. After starting home available fluids, it is better to consult a doctor medicines that claim to relieve diarrhea by decreasing the peristalsis are harmful and should never be used in infants and children. Antibiotics have a role in certain cases of severe dehydration fluids may have to be given through the intravenous (injection) route.

How does diarrhea occur

Infection of the gut is the commonest cause of diarrhea in infants and children. The harmful organisms enter the gut. In the gut they can injure the lining of the gut or make intestines secrete more fluids and electrolytes into the lumen of the gut and these are passed out as loose stools.Most diarrhea episodes can be prevented through personal hygiene, provision of safe water supply and proper sanitation and food hygiene. Some of the important measures that can help prevent diarrhea are enumerated:

• Ensure safe drinking water: This can be ensured by a variety of measures including boiling, treatment with certain chemicals or using certain filters. Ensure that water is kept covered and nobody puts his/her hands in stored water.


• Wash hands before preparing and cooking food.


• Wash uncooked vegetables and meat thoroughly before they are processed for cooking.


• Store food in clean utensils that are covered so that flies and insects do not contaminate the food.


• Serve food in clean utensils.


• Everyone should wash hands with soap and water before meals.


• Every one should wash hands with soap and water after defecation.


• Avoid eating out. If this is not possible choose restaurants carefully. Prefer those restaurants that have high standards of hygiene.


• Take measures to maintain clean surroundings.

About Appetite stimulants or tonics

Appetite stimulants available in the market have several side effects. And more important is the fact that an ill child with poor appetite requires his/her illness to be treated. A pampered child with food fads and "poor appetite" requires to be counseled and managed. Neither appetite stimulants nor tonics have any role. Child can be offered whatever food he wants to take in addition to the fluids. Due to illness, a child's appetite may be poor. Food should not be forced on him/her. This will lead to vomiting. Instead, it is prudent to offer small amounts more frequently. If food is not restricted , the weight loss during diarrhea can be minimized. Teething does not cause diarrhea. Teething begins at around 6-7 months. This is also the period when child starts putting everything in his/her mouth. This habit allows diarrhea causing germs to enter the infant's intestines and cause diarrhea. This is also the time when supplementary food in addition to breast milk is added to the infant's diet. If proper hygienic precautions are not taken while preparing, handling, storing and offering food, the infant can develop diarrhea.

About fruits and vegetables

For a vegetarian family it is necessary that the child takes vegetables. For these are the only source of calories and proteins for him/her. However, they cannot be forced on him/her. You should make efforts to find out what preparation of a particular vegetable he/she relishes. The same principle holds true for fruits. A child in a non-vegetarian family may get his/her calories and proteins from the non-vegetarian foods. However, it is healthier to have vegetables and fruits in the long run. The best way to convince a child to have fruits and vegetables is by whole family following the advice that they tend to give to the child. Sweets taken in moderation are not bad for health. However, their intake should not compromise his/her major meals or snack intake. Children usually do not wish to take spicy food. However, his/her requirements of balanced diet are met and if the does not have any problem with spicy food; there is no reason to make him/her stop it.

Handle a child who likes only junk food

Usually parents employ this is an escape machanism so that the child does not trouble them but slight firmness from the parents is all that is required. Secondly the whole family has to participate in the management of this problem. The parents and other family members should also avoid junk food. A balanced diet is the goal. However, there is no need for a regimental/strict attitude. Some "off days" are allowed, say for special occasions and parties, but within milits. Breast milk is given exclusively till 6 months of age. Thereafter breast milk is continued and complementary foods are introduced. Milk is a good source of nutrition. However , many children do not like to take animal milk. It is not a mandatory or essential item of diet. The same nutrients can easily be given through other foodstuffs. In addition, if the child does not want to have milk, instead of insisting that he take the white liquid , you can still provide the goodness of milk by making preparations made from milk (say sheera cooked in milk).