Fever - when do I need to go to the hospital?

Fever is not always serious. Especially for children, fever is a common sign in many different diseases during childhood. It may also be a child's reaction to environmental changes or external actors.

However, according to doctors, it is not possible for any reason to be subjective when having a fever. The following are the recommendations of the doctors for people to follow and promptly go to the hospital, avoiding the unfortunate consequences of subjectivity.

For children

Fever is defined as when measuring anus temperature from 38 degrees. Other regions can measure temperatures such as ears, armpits, mouths. However, anal temperature measurement is the most reliable. When the fever is high, parents can observe that the child has chills and shivers. But that's not a seizure because the whole child is still awake. In the case of suspected seizures, parents can take the child to the examination. Most children with fever are due to viral infections (80%) and may also be due to infections but less common.

Common cases of fever children:

1. Children with fever due to runny nose, flu, nasopharyngitis, intestinal inflammation caused by viral infection.
2. Children with fever due to pus ear infection, purulent tonsillitis, infectious pneumonia, nephritis caused by bacterial infection.
3. Children with fever due to post-vaccination reactions may also occur.

In case you need to take your child to a doctor for immediate examination:

1. If the child is under 3 months old, fever is 38 degrees or more, even if the child is still normal, the child still needs to be examined by a doctor and given a blood test to check.
2. Children from 3 to 36 months of age are 38 degrees or more in 3 days.
3. Children of all ages need to see a doctor if they have the following symptoms: Fever of over 40 degrees, fever with convulsions, recurring fever, fever with a history of heart disease, cancer, lupus . skin rash.
4. Parents should give children plenty of water to make up for fluids if they are afraid to see a doctor.
5. Let children rest at home and monitor children.

If the child has a fever of 38 degrees 5 or more:

1. Administer Paracetamol to reduce fever or anus.
2. Taking Ibuprofene if Paracetamol is not effective.
3. Fever below 38 degrees 5, it is not necessary to use fever.
4. Absolutely do not give aspirin to children because of the risk of Reye Syndrome.
5. Remove clothes for children to reduce body temperature and reduce fever.
6. Absolutely not automatically give children antibiotics when not prescribed by a doctor. Antibiotics are only effective for children who exhibit fever due to infection, antibiotics do not work if the child has a fever due to the virus.

When trying to cool, reduce fever does not work - This is the case if you should seek medical attention right away.

For adults

You should contact your doctor or go to the clinic if you have a fever and any other symptoms below:

1. When the fever lasts more than 48 hours.
2. When accompanied with vomiting or diarrhea that lasts more than 12 hours or has blood.
3. When accompanied with a cough with mucus or yellow, green, or bloody mucus.
4. When accompanied by severe headache, stiff neck, sleepiness and vomiting. This is a medical emergency - immediately go to the emergency room.
5. When the fever has a fever-reducing cycle then fever again, night sweats and swollen lymph nodes.
6. When mild fever comes with sore throat and fatigue.
7. When accompanied with sore throat and headache over 48 hours.
8. When accompanied by abdominal pain, stomach, nausea and vomiting.
9. When accompanied with an accident, injury.
10. When attempts to cool, reduce fever do not work - This is an emergency and you should seek medical care right away.
11. When you have just started taking new medicines and do not have other symptoms.
12. When you feel pain or bitterness when urinating with back pain symptoms.