Bachay Ko Bukhar Ho To Kya Karein? A Parent’s Guide to Fever in Children in Karachi
Fever is the most common reason parents in Karachi bring a child to the doctor. Most fevers are caused by viral infections and settle in two to three days. But in Karachi, fever can also be the first sign of dengue, typhoid or malaria, so it helps to know what to do at home and when to see a child specialist.
What counts as fever?
A temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher is a fever. Use a digital thermometer under the arm or in the mouth for older children. Touching the forehead is not reliable.
The number on the thermometer matters less than how your child looks and behaves. A child with 39°C who is playing and drinking is usually less worrying than a child with 38°C who is very sleepy and refusing fluids.
Bachay ko bukhar ho to ghar par kya karein
- Give plenty of fluids. Breast milk, water, ORS, soup or juice. Small sips often are better than a big glass.
- Dress the child lightly. Do not wrap them in heavy blankets, even if they shiver.
- Use paracetamol for comfort if the child is unhappy. Give the dose written on the pack for your child’s weight, and never give more often than the pack allows.
- Do not give aspirin to children.
- Avoid ibuprofen if dengue is possible (it is common in Karachi from September to November). Ask your doctor first.
- Do not sponge with cold water or put ice on the body. It makes children shiver and does not help.
- Do not start antibiotics on your own. Leftover or pharmacy antibiotics can hide typhoid and add to drug resistance, which is already a serious problem in Sindh.
When to see a child specialist the same day
See a doctor today if your child has fever and any of these:
- Age under 3 months with any temperature of 38°C or more
- Very sleepy, hard to wake, floppy or unusually irritable
- Fast or difficult breathing, or the ribs pull in with each breath
- A rash that does not fade when you press a glass on it
- Fits (convulsions), a stiff neck, or a severe headache
- Refusing to drink, or passing much less urine than usual
- Repeated vomiting, severe tummy pain, or bleeding from the gums or nose
- Fever lasting more than 3 days, or fever that went away and came back
If your child is having a fit, is blue around the lips, or cannot be woken, go to the nearest emergency department straight away.
Which tests may be needed?
Many children need no tests. If the fever lasts or the doctor is concerned, common tests in Karachi are a complete blood count (CBC), a dengue NS1 test in the first days of fever, a malaria test, a typhoid blood culture, and a urine test. Your child specialist will choose only the tests your child needs.
Fever with fits (febrile seizures)
Some children aged 6 months to 5 years have a short fit when fever rises quickly. It is frightening but usually harmless. Lay the child on their side, do not put anything in the mouth, and time the fit. Any first fit should be checked by a doctor, and a fit lasting more than 5 minutes needs emergency care.
Aksar poochay janay walay sawal (FAQs)
Bachay ko kitna bukhar khatarnak hai?
Any fever in a baby under 3 months needs a doctor. In older children, how the child behaves matters more than the number. Use the warning signs above.
Kya bukhar se dimagh ko nuqsan hota hai?
Ordinary fever from an infection does not damage the brain. The cause of the fever is what needs attention.
Kya har bukhar mein antibiotic zaroori hai?
No. Most fevers are viral and antibiotics do not help them. A doctor should decide after examining your child.
See a child specialist in Shah Faisal Colony
Dr Samina Habib, FCPS (Paediatrics), sees children at The Asthetik, Shah Faisal Colony branch: Office 1/A-59, Ground Floor, Umar Farooq Road, near DVAGO, Block 1, Shah Faisal Colony, Karachi. Families come to us from Shah Faisal, Malir, Model Colony, Malir Cantt and Landhi.
Call 021-34570339 or book an appointment online. Learn more about our children’s healthcare services.
This article is general information for parents and is not a substitute for examining your child.