When a flu hits, the most important things to do are keep temperature in check, and re-hydrate.
Lower Temperature:
- Unwrap/undress,
- cool with damp washcloths or lukewarm bath
- alternate Tylenol and Ibuprofen every 2 hours as needed
When your child first gets sick, do not try to give them food or drink right away, wait until they want something. OR if your child is visibly dehydrated (i.e. no wet diapers in 12 hours, no tears, sunken eyes)
Then start with re-hydrating!
To Re-Hydrate:
- start with 1/4 tsp. water or Pedialyte every 10-15 minutes*
- if the child vomits, start over again
- when the child tolerates this for one hour, increase to 1/2 tsp. every 10-15 min.
- when the child tolerates this for one hour, increase to 1 tsp. every 10-15 min.
- gradually increase with small amounts of liquid and foods from BRAT diet when desired
*If the child is not tolerating 1/4 tsp. liquid, try starting with 1/8 tsp.
When to call the Dr:
- if you are unable to control the fever with Tylenol and Ibuprofen
- if Fever lasts longer than 48 hours
- if your child is dehydrated and will not tolerate 1/8 tsp. liquid after 2 hours of trying every 10-15 min.
2 comments:
I have been told to not undress the baby/kid when they have a fever because the body will just make the fever go up is you try to cool them off. They recommend keeping them warmer then normal so that the fever doesn't have to go so high to fight the infection. Ben has only had one fever in his 2 years and so I don't really know what really works...what do you think?
in my experience, the fever does not go up when you cool them off. i have never heard of keeping them warmer than normal.
when the fever gets high, it can cause damage and needs to be brought down immediately.
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