High Fever in Toddlers

Fever is the body's own mechanism of fighting infections. When the body catches infections, the white cells in the blood trigger the production of a chemical substance, which adjusts the 'thermostat' of the body to raise the body temperature. Normally, the range of fever in an healthy individual is 96-100 °F. However, the body temperature varies throughout the day and is lowest in the morning while highest in the evening. Also, some people are naturally warmer than others. Fever is said to have occurred when the body temperature exceeds beyond 100°F or exceeds 1°F more than the normal temperature of the concerned individual. However, fever in infants and toddlers needs to be addressed differently.

The immune system in human beings takes quite a few years to become fully functional. This is the reason why small children are more prone to infections. As mentioned above, fever is the body's own mechanism to fight infections. Thus, fever becomes the most common type of ailment in children. In fact, fever can actually prove beneficial to the body, as it increases the resistance power of the body. Mild fever is usually not a cause of worry and subsides on its own. However, high fever in infants or young children may need medical intervention.

Causes
The causes of high fever in children are pretty much similar to those in adults. However, it is the severity of symptoms that makes the fever an issue of concern. Viral infections are the leading cause of high fever in children. There are several infections like strep throat, chickenpox, common cold and flu, which result in high fever. The same virus that causes a simple runny nose in older children may cause vomiting, diarrhea and high fever among young toddlers. Often, toddlers get these infections from adults around them or other children in play groups.

Symptoms
It is not just enough to check the temperature of the toddler, for high fever. It is equally important to know if your child really looks sick or feverish. Toddlers have a tendency to 'heat up' after excessive crawling or running around. Therefore, it is imperative that you know the real symptoms of high fever. If your toddler is capable of expressing himself verbally, he will often complain of headache, body ache, chills, etc. Younger children may show poor appetite, unusual sleeping patterns, rapid breathing, etc. High body temperature, of course, remains the significant symptom of high fever in toddlers.

Treatment
Your doctor may often advise you to wait for the fever to break, before attempting to treat it with medications. Since, fever is often an indication that something is wrong inside the body, it is best to let it subside on its own, rather than suppressing it with heavy medications. However, you can try to reduce the physical discomfort associated with it, by using some home remedies. Bathing the toddler with lukewarm water, helps to reduce the overall body temperature. Similarly, placing cold cloths on his forehead and limbs also brings down the fever. During high fever, body tends to get dehydrated, thus it is important to keep your toddler well hydrated. Fruit juices and fluid containing electrolytes are helpful in treating high fever.

Though, high fever rarely has serious implications, it is better to get your child checked by a medical practitioner. Especially, if the child suffers from frequent bouts of fever. Sometimes, medications such as ibuprofen may be used to treat high fever.