Children are more predisposed to various illnesses. Fever is a very common ailment every parent experience. Fever is the body's defense mechanism against viruses or bacteria. The body tries to create so much heat that the virus or the bacteria cannot survive. Having temperature helps you fight illness. The part of the human brain, which controls body temperature, is not fully developed in children. That means that children's temperature may rise and fall very quickly.

       There are a number of reasons for fever. An infection may prolong as Typhoid, Malaria, Jaundice and other seasonal diseases like Mumps and Chicken pox. Usually the infections invade respiratory passage, digestive tract and sometimes urinary tract. Common cold, sore throat, diarrhoea and burning sensation in urethra are the common primary complaints for fever.

Cold and sore throat
A child sneezes with running nose when an infection invades the inner lining of the nostrils. Sometimes a child may have difficulty in swallowing due to sore throat. The child becomes dull and feels uneasy as if irritated. The child is more likely to run temperature. If it is a mild condition; recovery takes place within a week.

Airborne droplets spread the infection when the sufferer coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by hand if someone has the virus on their hands and then puts them close to their eyes or nose. This is possibly the most common way of catching a cold. If possible make your child stay away from people with colds. Avoid crowded places where the risk of infection is higher. Do not touch your nose or eyes after being in physical contact with somebody who has cold. Wash your hands thoroughly, especially after blowing your nose.

Sometimes the infection may proceed to the adenoids and tonsils to cause swelling. Bronchitis and primary complex are the super infection, where the child predisposed to a long-time cough and croup.

Diarrhoea
A child may pass large amount of loose stool. It is often accompanied by stomach pain, feeling sick and vomiting. Fever starts within a day or two. This type usually results by a bacterial or viral infection and food poisoning. Infections have been transmitted from person to person. You should give more attention to the nature of the stool. If the stool is slimy, sticky with mucous scrapings, the most probable cause could be a bacterial such as amoebic infection. You must pay more attention to the watery stools as viral or food poisoning could make your child dehydrate fast.

Urinary tract infections
Next cause that is to be focused on could be the child's urinary tract. The children are more prone to be affected by recurrent urinary tract infections. Usually the child cries or complains about passing yellow-coloured urine. If fever accompanies, it would be the cause.

There are a number of reasons for fever. An infection may prolong as Typhoid, Malaria, Jaundice and other seasonal diseases like Mumps and Chicken pox.

      

How to manage fever?      

   If it is very hot, take off your child's clothes so that heat can escape from their body. If it is very cold, parents can help their child stay warm by dressing him or her in warm clothes. A child with a high temperature needs more liquid than usual, because the fever will make them sweat a lot. Make sure the child drinks plenty of liquids, if necessary, a teaspoonful every few minutes. Provided they drink plenty of liquids, it won't matter too much if they eat very little for a couple of days.

A child with a high temperature also needs rest and sleep. They do not have to be in bed all day if they feel like playing, but they must have the opportunity to lie down. If the child shivers while his temperature is rising, it is better to cover him with a blanket, but when his temperature has stabilized and the child starts sweating, they need to be cooled down. They need to wear only underwear or a nappy and this will help the heat escape from the body. Make sure their room is ventilated and cool, but not draughty.

Sick children are often tired and bad tempered. They sleep a lot and when they are awake, they want their parents around all the time. They may complain about headache and cry and behave like young ones. It is better to give in and care a child a little more while they are sick. Read to them, play with them and spend time with them. This is not the time to teach a child to behave. A child usually recovers quickly and will go back to his old self again.

What is febrile fit?

             Febrile convulsions occur in young children when there is a rapid increase in their body temperature. It affects only a small percentage of three to four-year-olds. Children who are at risk may naturally have a lower resistance to febrile convulsion than others. Children may inherit the tendency to suffer febrile convulsion from their parents. Nevertheless, the child's susceptibility also depends on whether he or she frequently gets infections.

    Look at your child and try to find out the cause. Do not scare for every complaint. Does the child look exhausted? Does he or she look ill? Does he or she behave differently? If he does, call the doctor.
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    If your young child, less than three months old, who runs a high fever, call the doctor.
    If your child persistently cries, without being able to comfort him or her and doesn't wake up on his own,        doctor must be called.
    If your child has a temperature over 38 degrees C (101.3 degrees F) for more than three days, the child        needs to be clinically examined.
    If your child has any one of the following symptoms he or she needs to be attended by the doctor:
     Stiff neck.
    Affected by bright lights.
    Hallucinations.
    Red rash or blue/purple dots or patches.
    Breathing trouble.
    Cramps.
    Continued vomiting or diarrhoea.
    Continued tonsillitis.
    If it is painful for the child to urinate or urinates more than usual.
    If your child does not seem to be getting better around.
     

  Even though modern medicine is popular in tackling the acute crisis, it cannot prevent its frequency. The basic, inner truth lies in the immunity of the Child.

"My son had fever with cold last month; he again has cold and fever: I don't know why it is affecting very often. I am very much worried, doctor". The usual, common complaint.

Homoeopathy treats your child as a whole to look deeper into the peculiar symptoms. This helps to raise the immunity and child's body reacts on its own to fight against infection. Homoeopathy promotes the self-healing process of a child. I had treated many such cases with wonderful results. I can say rather than the children their parents made better co-operation, because the tiny, sweet pellets are liked by most of them. Usually the parents approach us as an alternate when a child is put on heavy narcotics drugs for febrile fits and frequent fever attacks. They favour this system to avoid side- effects. The dynamic medicine of Homoeopathy has made them recover with wonderful healing!