4 common mistakes parents make when their child has a high fever: Doctor explains what to do

Kids’ health is a top priority for parents. However, they often don’t know the right thing that needs to be done when a kid is unwell. Dr Deepa Aggarwal, who’s a child specialist, recently shared a video on her Instagram handle, narrating an incident that recently happened at the hospital. She mentioned how a parent brought their kid, who was suffering from high fever, to the hospital. Dr Deepa shared the mistakes that parents often make that make things worse, especially when kids are unwell.In the video, she shared, “A couple came with their kid, who had high fever. They did not give fever medicine. When asked, they said, ‘Ma’am, we thought we would show the child to you first; otherwise, we wouldn’t know why the fever is coming.’ Secondly, they did not give the medicine because the child had not eaten anything since morning and was completely empty-stomached. Because of these three reasons, the child’s fever could become very high.” She further said, “If a child has a fever, do not wait to show them to a doctor. Giving fever medicine without first showing the child to a doctor is better, because by the time you reach the doctor, the fever can increase further and become harder to bring down. So when a child has a fever, try to dress them in thin layers. Hold the child close and sit with them; your body heat will help the child feel comfortable and prevent them from feeling too cold.”Later, she said, “This is a mistake pediatricians see every single day, especially with school-going kids. A child with fever feels scary and parents panic, but sometimes good intentions plus common myths lead to higher fever. It is an important reminder that old prescriptions may no longer apply and that the correct dose is necessary for effective fever control.” “When fever medicine is under-dosed, it often doesn’t work, leading parents to think the medicine failed, when actually the dose was incorrect. As a comfort tip, keep clothing light, cuddle your child, and offer reassurance. Sometimes body warmth and calm parenting work better than layers of blankets,” she concluded.