10 BEST PROVEN HOME REMEDIES FOR FEVER IN KIDS

Effective natural remedies to treat fever in children

With every season change, parent’s biggest concern is their kid’s health and how to protect them from fever, cold and cough. Fever is common in children of all age group, no matter how careful you are. Young children are prone to falling ill because their immune systems are not strong enough to fight  toxic air and seasonal allergies. Fever itself is usually not harmful, in fact it helps the body’s immune system fight off infection. Fever is a defense against infection, it raises the temperature of the body to kill the germs. By increasing the body’s temperature, a fever makes it harder for the bacteria and viruses to survive in the body and cause infection. Keep reading to find more details about fever and effective home remedies to manage it.

WHAT CONSIDERED AS FEVER:

Many parents complain that their baby’s head is warm most of the time and their feet and palm are hot. Do they have a fever?

Children are considered to have a fever if they have a body temperature of 38.5°C (101.3°F) or more, and babies less than three months old are already considered to have a fever at a body temperature of 38.0°C (100.4°F) or more. Use a reliable digital thermometer to confirm a fever.

CAUSES OF FEVER IN KIDS

When the child has fever, the doctors are more concerned about what is causing the fever, and not what the child’s temperature is. Fevers can be caused by a few things, including

  • Infection:

Most of the fever is caused by infection or other illness for instance, a common cold, middle ear infection, urinary tract infection (UTI) or gastroenteritis. Fever helps the body to fight this infection by raising body temperature to kill the germs.

  • Vaccination:

Generally after vaccination kids get a slight increase in their body temperature. Child’s immune system is developing antibodies to fight the germs that the vaccine aims to protect them from.

  • Dehydration:

Dehydration caused by severe vomiting or diarrhea or they haven’t had enough fluid and their body is dehydrated. This also causes fever in some cases.

  • Sunburn /sunstroke:

Sunburn, sunstroke or heat stroke may also causes fever in some cases

  • Food allergies or intolerance:

Food allergies or intolerance like lactose intolerance and gluten intolerance may also cause fever in some cases.

SYMPTOMS OF FEVER AND WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

Generally you can tell that a child has a fever just by looking at them. Typical signs include a red face, tired-looking or glazed eyes and otherwise pale skin. A hot forehead or neck can also be a sign of fever. Some children lose their appetite or cry a lot.

You should consult a doctor if child has following symptoms:

  • Their temperature is above 39°C (102.2°F) or a baby under three months old has a temperature above 38°C (100.4°F)
  • The fever last longer than three days
  • Vomiting and refuses to eat or drink anything
  • Have diarrhea or pain in their belly (home remedies for diarrhea in kids)
  • They have skin rash
  • Stiff neck, are unresponsive, restless or confused
  • More sleepy than usual
  • Problems with breathing
  • They have a febrile seizure (fit)
  • Seem be getting more unwell

Seeing your baby in fever is a difficult thing and you do everything to give them comfort during fever. Taking proper care at home can help your baby to recover fast and regain their energy. Below are some home remedies and foods that can help your baby with fever.

HOME REMEDIES FOR FEVER THAT CAN HELP:

1. PLENTY OF FLUIDS:

Offer plenty of fluids to keep them hydrated, because fever can make them sweat excessively and cause dehydration in kids. You can offer your child water or oral rehydration solution. Give a small amount of fluid at a time but multiple times in a day. Apart from this you can also offer hot homemade soups, which are full of essential vitamins and minerals and are easy to digest. Avoid drinks with caffeine, including colas and tea, because they can make dehydration worse by increasing urination.

2. APPLE CIDER VINEGAR BATH:

This is one of the most effective remedies to fight fever. ACV has a lot of disinfectant, antimicrobial, antioxidant properties. In lukewarm water add a cup of apple cider vinegar and give your baby a gentle bath or sponge bath. This will immediately bring down the body temperature and give your baby relief from fever. You can also add a few drops of ACV to a warm compress pack and lay it over your baby’s forehead. this is one of the most effective home remedies of fever.

3. MUSTARD OIL AND GARLIC MASSAGE:

Heat mustard oil and roast garlic and carom seeds in it. Once cool, apply this oil on the baby’s head, palm, feet base, chest and back. Leave it applied and let the child sleep. It will help settle the body temperature. Also, any body ache the child has will be resolved. Mustard oil is a very effective cough and cold home remedy. ( how massage is important for kids?)

4. CHAMOMILE TEA:

Chamomile is considered to be a safe and effective way to help a child relax and will keep your child hydrated. Bring some water to boil and soak chamomile tea leaves in it for about a minute. Add honey to it and feed a few drops of it to your child, twice a day.

5. TURMERIC:

Turmeric is the food for immunity boosting. There is a enough scientific evidence that curcumin compound of turmeric aids in boosting immunity. They also prevents body from any pain, swelling, fever due to its anti-inflammatory property. Offer a glass of luke warm turmeric milk to your child. Out of many home remedies of fever, this is the most powerful.

6. RAISINS:

Raisins have antioxidant and antibacterial properties which help in fighting infections and lowering the body temperature during fever. Take a handful of raisins (20-25 approx.), soak all the raisins in a half cup of water for about an hour, once they become soft crush and strain the liquid. Add lime juice to it for better results. Feed this tonic to your child twice a day and see the difference.

7. ONION:

Onions are believed to bring down the temperature gradually. This is one of the most traditional home remedies for fever in children, onions are effective in relieving body pain also. Cut an onion into slices and rub 2 – 3 slices on your child’s feet for 2 minutes each. Repeat this process twice a day.

8. LEMON AND HONEY:

Lemon and Honey are magical foods known for their medicinal properties. This is one of the easy and simple home remedies of fever. The vitamin C content of lemon helps improve immunity and honey provides nourishment. The combination of ingredients is highly effective in reducing fever. Mix one tablespoon of honey and an equal amount of lemon juice or in a glass of warm water add one tablespoon honey and juice of half lemon and feed the mixture to the child and watch the fever go down.

9. TULSI

Tulsi is an important herb and every household should have it. With its antibiotic properties, it is very effective in bringing the fever down.  Add a few leaves of tulsi to boiling water, allow it to boil for 2 minutes, strain the water and make your child drink this multiple times a day to lower their temperature.

10. GINGER:

People have used ginger as one of the herbal home remedies of fever .  It has anti-inflammatory  antibacterial, antiviral properties that make it an excellent home remedy for fever. You can make ginger tea for the fever. Take a small piece of ginger and grate it and add it to a cup of water. Boiling water boils for a couple of minutes and then takes it out of the flame. Add a little honey and make your child drink this ginger tea three to four times a day.

DO YOUR CHILD OFTEN FALL SICK?

Do your child often fall sick with fever, cold and cough? The food we eat plays a key role in determining the overall health and immunity. It gives the body a condition of being able to resist a particular disease. by adding these foods to your kid’s diet you can prevent them from falling sick again and again by boosting their immunity.

GILOY:

It is a shrub and an essential herb in ayurvedic medicines. Giloy is used to treat a wide range of health conditions. It contains important plant compounds like terpenoids, alkaloids, lignans, and steroids. Research shows that these compounds have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties, among other benefits which help to boost immunity.

TULSI:

Tulsi leaves have been scientifically proven to have medicinal properties. It also has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal effects, rich in vitamin c and zinc and thus keeps the infection at a bay and naturally boosts the immunity.

AMLA:

Amla is a storehouse of antioxidants. It is one of the richest sources of vitamin C, which is known to boost immunity. It has antibacterial and astringent properties that boosts immunity.

ASHWAGANDHA:

As an anti-oxidant, boosting immunity is one of the most popular benefits of Ashwagandha for kids. The root activates and increases the levels of enzymes and macrophages, a type of white blood cell that kills bad viruses and bacterias. It also promotes the development of antibodies, which is a major factor in improving the body’s response to a health-threatening infection.

TURMERIC:

A compound found in turmeric, Curcumin, offers therapeutic relief and is a perfect immunity booster for kids. It has a a very high antioxidant value to protect body from invading infections. It is also rich in vitamin A, Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2) and vitamin C.

NUTS:

The vitamin E found in nuts like almonds, cashews, peanuts and hazelnut help the immune system to fight against invading bacteria. They are a great source of antioxidants that keep the body healthy and disease free by neutralizing free radicals and reducing inflammation.

SEEDS:

Seeds are an incredible source of nutrients. Sunflower seeds are rich in magnesium, vitamin E, antioxidants and good fats. Together they help to boost immunity. Pumpkin seeds are rich in Vitamin E which is necessary for immunity building and also packed with other bone-building nutrients like potassium, magnesium and vitamin K. Melon seeds are a good source of zinc. It helps to boost our immunity, helps in digestion, cell growth, and keeps your nervous system healthy.

ANTIOXIDANTS:

Cocoa contains flavonoid, a naturally occurring compound found in plants which act as antioxidant and help in counteracting free radicals in the body. Also rich in zinc, iron, copper, and vitamins like A, B12 and K. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant and has an ability to modulate host immune functions. Vitamin E is key for strong immunity and healthy skin and eyes. In recent years, vitamin E supplements have become popular as antioxidants.