When a child is in the early stages of a viral illness, it is very difficult to establish what is wrong with it. All viral diseases begin approximately the same way: a runny nose, sore throat, fever, loss of strength. Such symptoms, as a rule, can last only one or two days before when other symptoms specific for a particular disease appear.
Step 1: The first couple of days - watch, wait and write.
- The aching child behaves like a sick man - he does not run around the house, does not want to eat, constantly whines and becomes capricious.
- Watch for new symptoms, such as a cough or rash and write down when they appear.
- Periodically measure the temperature of the baby's body. Normal values are 36-37ºC, all that is higher - already a fever.
Each child has a different temperature, so in order to know the normal temperature background of your child, you need to measure it when the baby is healthy. The indicator above 38 ° C is already a signal for action.
Step 2: Use an oil repellent if necessary.
- Heat is the first sign of the body's struggle with a disease that can shorten its duration, so it's not always necessary to immediately knock down the temperature.
- If your child feels bad from the heat, give him paracetamol or ibuprofen; both of these drugs will quench the pain and reduce fever.
- Always check the correct dosage. It depends on the weight of the child and changes when the baby grows. When you are unsure of the amount of the dose, it is better to consult your child's pediatrician.
- Always write down the name of the child's medicine, its number and time of admission. This becomes especially important when more than one person is cared for by a sick child or several sickly babies.
- The maximum amount of ibuprofen and paracetamol per day should be no more than four receptions.
Step 3: Create comfort for your child.
- Let your baby rest if he wants. There is no such rule that he was constantly in bed. A cozy nest, made on the couch near the parents, can significantly improve the child's well-being. Allow the child to watch TV or read entertaining stories.
- Maintain a normal air temperature, make sure that it is not too hot or cold.
- Dress the child in loose, not tight cotton clothing and take away from him massive and warm bedspreads and carpets.
- Make sure that the child has enough to drink. Small sips of fluid are considered much better than those drunk in one fell swoop. Offer the baby water, compotes, jelly, ice cubes or icy pieces for resorption.
- Do not be discouraged if the child does not want to eat, there's nothing wrong with this, this happens because the child drinks a lot of fluids.
Step 4: Help the toddler overcome the obsessive itching of the rash.
- Cool the child's skin with a cold wet cloth or towel.
- Bathe your child in a bath using a pine resin additive.
- With chicken pox, Calamine Lotion is recommended. Pine tar or similar lotions, such as gels with aloe vera extract or healing products like Solugel, will also help to soften and soothe the flaky skin.
- Always make sure that the baby's nails are cut short so that he can not tear the pimples and re-infect the infection.
- If the itching is unbearable, antihistamines may help, especially at night.
Step 5: Consult the doctor.
- If the child's temperature has risen above 40 ° C and you can not knock it down.
- If the child is very sleepy or difficult to awaken.
- When the baby refuses to drink or suspicions about his dehydration, since he did not write for a long time.
- If the child coughs up the green / yellow mucus, and / or it causes painful sensations.
- When the baby is not yet a year old, and he picked up one of the children's viral diseases.
- If the child exhibits other symptoms that cause you anxiety, such as: headache, or shortness of breath, lameness or stiffness of the occipital muscles.
- When the child does not get better.
The state of children's health is very variable, but sometimes it is better to check seven times than to torment yourself with groundless guesses.