PAIN AND FEVER!!!

The most disturbing symptoms that children may experience while growing up is Pain and Fever. They are the body’s signals that something is wrong - pain usually indicates damage, e.g. to bone or tissues, and fever is a sign that the body is ‘fighting’ a bacterial or viral infection.

Children can experience as much pain as adults and, like adults, they respond to pain in different ways. Assessing children’s pain can be difficult because of the many factors that influence how they show pain and respond to it - factors such as age, their levels of understanding, family/cultural background; etc. Babies and very young children in pain will continue to cry after you have tried everything else such as food, nappy changes and cuddles. Older children can identify from where the pain is coming (head, throat, ears, stomach), and in their own words can describe what they feel. Ask your child to explain the pain, and monitor it to determine if it is improving or getting worse.

On many occasions treatment with over the counter analgesics (pain relievers) and antipyretics (fever reducers) such as paracetamol may be all that is required. But when concerned it is best to seek medical advice from a doctor. Common causes of childhood pain and fever include teething, headache, earache, cold and flu, sore throat and immunisation.

Pain is a normal part of life and is usually the body's warning signal that something is wrong or treatment is needed. Fever is the body's natural response to infections. Almost all children will experience fever at some time. In most cases the fever lasts for two or three days and will disappear when the infection is gone.

The normal oral temperature of a child ranges from 36°C to 37°C. If the child's temperature is above 37.7°C they most likely have a fever. When deciding whether or not to treat a fever with medication a parent needs to consider how the child actually feels, not what their temperature is. If the child is uncomfortable and distressed then a children's analgesic/antipyretic may be appropriate.

Most cases of fever are not harmful to the child, however a parent may choose to seek a doctor's advice if their child:

* Is sleepier than usual or difficult to awaken

* Is confused or delirious

* Has purple spots on their skin

* Is having difficulty breathing

* under 2 months old

* Is screaming/crying and cannot be consoled

* Has a fever greater than 40.5°C.

* Is having convulsions

* Has a stiff neck

The fever could be a response to the common cold. This is confirmed if other symptoms, such as sore throat, runny or blocked nose, and cough, occur at the same time (see the Coughs & Colds fact card). For mild fever, and in most common cold cases, the fever is self-limiting and will clear-up without the need for medicines. But medicines in liquid form, especially prepared for use in children, help relieve pain and reduce fever. The decision to treat your child without seeking the doctor’s advice first should be based on how unsettled and unwell your child seems, what other symptoms are present, and what the body temperature is.

Special medicine measures (spoons or syringes) are available from your Reach pharmacy so you can measure your child’s dose accurately. Don’t use household teaspoons; they vary in sizes and you won’t get the correct liquid dose required. Special droppers are available for giving medicines to babies and young children - look out for infant-specific products as these usually contain free measuring dispensers. Self medication can be very dangerous since children are very delicate. So better take the child to doctor or get help from Reach Pharmacy.