Fevers

What precisely are fevers? Why do children obtain them? Why are they so important to their parents and doctors? Let's investigate.

Why Do People Get Fever?

The average internal temperature of a person is 98.6°F (37°C). Some people's usual temperature will be a little bit higher, while others will have a little bit lower.

Even the average person's body temperature varies a little bit throughout the day: It is typically slightly lower in the morning and slightly higher in the evening. Most children's body temperatures are fairly consistent day to day up until the presence of pathogens.

Do you still have the sore throat that made you feel so awful? Or another instance when you were fatigued and achy due to the flu? These infections are brought on by microorganisms that enter your body, typically in the shape of bacteria (pronounce it: bak-TEER-ee-uh) or viruses.

Your body's thermostat rises as a result of the invasion of these bacteria that make you ill. Your body's temperature may report that your body should be at 102°F (38.9°C) rather than 98.6°F (37°C).

Why does your body's temperature change? According to researchers, increasing the heat is the body's method of battling pathogens and making your body less inviting for them.

Additionally, a temperature is a reliable indicator of illness for you, your family, and your doctor. It is much more difficult to determine if someone has an infection without a temperature. Adults worry when you have a temperature because of this.

Combat the Flu

Fever is not a significant issue for almost all children. Your body temperature returns to normal when the fever is handled or clears up naturally, and you resume feeling like yourself. The majority of medical professionals concur that many children with fevers don't require specific medication unless their fevers are uncomfortable.

Doctors may advise parents to give their children medicine if they are uneasy and have a higher temperature. The two drugs that are most frequently suggested are acetaminophen and ibuprofen (pronounce them as uh-SEE-tuh-min-uh-fen) (say: eye-byoo-PRO-fen). The medication stops the molecules from telling the body to increase the temperature. Aspirin should never be given to children to treat a fever because it may result in a rare but severe condition.

Your parents will likely advise you to drink more fluids than normal if you have a fever. That's crucial because your body can easily become exhausted as it warms up (say: dee-HI-dray-ted). This indicates that your body doesn't have enough fluids. When it comes to beverages, you have a lot of options, including juice, water, sports drinks, soup, flavored gelatin, and even frozen pops.

Your parents will quickly remove the thermometer from your lips and inform you that your temperature is normal. Fever is gone!