Although fever is common all around the year, viruses have a seasonality and monsoon is one time when viral fevers are very prevalent. As parents, we do everything we can to keep our kids healthy. No matter how much ever preventive measures we take, at one point or other our kid will get sick. It's so disturbing to watch our usually happy and energetic child look tired and inactive. We all know that fever is a body’s reaction to fight off an infection. Whether you consult a doctor or not, depends on your child’s age and symptoms. Along with that, it is very important to help them feel more comfortable. So, apart from the regular pain relieving medicines, sponging and ample sleep here’s what I follow for my little one.
Well hydrated
We would have heard this at all times from the doctors or our well-wishers. What does this mean? A sick kid will have a change in appetite and gets dehydrated quickly. Warm liquids will be more appealing than solids. So give them frequent small portions of fluids like vegetable soup, sweet lime juice diluted with water and honey, milk, barley rice water, plain warm water with honey etc.
Feeding them with solids
We can offer them some easy to digest foods like idly, idiyappam, rice porridge/kanji, rasam rice, moong dal kichdi or rice etc. It is ok even if they eat very less, never force them to eat. For a day or two, we can try to balance with liquids.
Keep them diverted/engaged
A child will not have a high temperature at all times during the course of a fever. He/she will seem to be little better when the temperature reduces. During then you can keep them engaged with stories or some word games while still on a bed/sofa. A little bit of TV time is also ok. But make sure they are not too much into that as their eyes will get strained.
Hugs and cuddles
As the little one will feel low and clingy when sick, lots of hugs and cuddles will soothe them. Give plenty of them. Also, talk to them. Tell them that they are very strong that the germs will go off in a day or two and they will be on their toes up and be playing as usual.
After fever care
Most of the time, a viral fever or the high temperature will subside within 3-5 days. But the child will still have a lot of tiredness and body pain. Hence plenty of rest and a good diet after the fever is even more important. We don’t have to stop on the liquids once the temperature gets back to normal. They are still needed to boost up the immune system. We can include easy to digest vegetables like carrots, boiled potatoes and high water content vegetables (ridge gourd, pumpkin, bottle gourd, chow chow/chayote) , moong dal and fruits like apple etc. Salt water gargle a couple of times will ease a sore throat, which is likely to develop along with a viral fever. With all these, definitely you can give your child a quick recovery from the awful fever.
Bottom line is understanding the way your kid responds to a variety of methods and keep them comfortable during illness.
P.S Thank you for going through my article. Would love to hear more tips from you. Kindly share them in the comments section below!
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