Still clearly in my mind that on the 1st Jan 2008, my Baby Moon had high fever at >38° Celsius and the fever last for the whole week. We were told by many friends and relatives that baby teething cause fever, and at the beginning we thought that she was teething. We checked her temperature frequently and brought her for doctor. However, two days later her temperature still very high and we backed to our family doctor again.

The doctor suggested to bring Baby Moon for blood and urine test if her fever last for more than five days. Within the two days we were very anxious and prayed every moment for her sickness. Unfortunately, her fever still very high and we decided to follow doctor's advice and brought her to hospital for blood and urine test. She cried painful and we were very pity of her. We took good care of her and waited patiently for the test result.

The test result was finally released two days later and doctor told us Baby Moon was fine and nothing wrong with her health. That means the reason of her fever was unknown. We could only continue to monitor and gave her antibiotics. You can imagine how our feelings under this situation. Luckily her temperature was slowly back to normal after the whole week of high fever. And the reason of her high fever is still a mystery until today.

After the incident, I feel that we as parent should have some knowledges about children fever and won't panic easily.

Temperature Conversion:

Celsius to Fahrenheit

• 38C = 100.4F
• 39C = 102.2F
• 40C = 104.0F
• 41C = 105.8F
• 42C = 107.6F

Fahrenheit to Celsius

• 100F = 37.7C
• 101F = 38.3C
• 102F = 38.8C
• 103F = 39.4C
• 104F = 40.0C
• 105F = 40.5C

when to check child's temperature?

• If your children complain of being cold.
• Your children are not playing like they usually do.
• Your children feel hot.

Child has a fever if the temperature is at or above one of these levels:

• 100.4° Fahrenheit (38° Celsius) measured rectally (in the bottom)
• 99.5° Fahrenheit (37.5° Celsius) measured orally (in the mouth)
• 99° Fahrenheit (37.2° Celsius) measured in an axillary position (under the arm)

When to see the doctor?

• They look sicker than previously.
• Has difficulty breathing
• Becomes drowsy
• Refuses to drink, and is urinating less frequently
• Complains of a stiff neck, persistent headache or light hurting their eyes
• Vomits persistently, or has frequent bouts of diarrhoea
• Does not improve in 48 hours
• Has fever and in under the age of three months
• Is aged less than 12 months and has a fever
• Is causing you to worry for any other reason.
• Is feeding poorly, vomiting or lethargic.
• Has abdominal pain and discomfort.
• Has rash.
• Is in pain

Here are some tips when your child has a fever

• Give panadol syrup and use as directed on the bottle.
• Sponge your child with the wet towel or cloth.
• Give the child plenty of cool, clear liquids to drink.
• Dress your child in light clothings to allow heat exchange.
• Bring for doctor
• Encourage your child to take plenty of fluids
• Keep the room environment cool
• Check it 1 hour after giving medication to bring their fever down.
• Check your child's temperature just before calling your doctor and be able to tell them what it has been.
• Give a lukewarm bath or sponge. Do not give a cold bath. Cold water cools the skin but does not lower the body temperature.

Conditions that can cause fever are:

• flu,
• ear infections,
• roseola (a virus causing a temperature and rash),
• tonsillitis,
• kidney or urinary infections, or
• any of the common childhood diseases such as measles, mumps, chickenpox and whooping cough.

Important points to take note

• Teething does not cause fever.
• Do not wrap the child with a blanket.
• Follow the advice of doctor, if necessary a blood test may need to be done in prolonged fevers.
• Don't give a baby younger than 3 months old medicine unless your family doctor tells you to.
• Read labels carefully. Make sure you are giving your child the right amount of medicine.

And the most important is give them lots of "tender loving care" while they are sick.