Children - Pyrexia Flashcards

1
Q

Pyrexia

A

Fever
Raised body temperature
a temperature of over 37.5C (99.5F) is a fever

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2
Q

What is normal body temperature?

A

36.5 - 37.5

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3
Q

Symptoms associated with fever

A
  • excessive sweating
  • chills
  • headache

Additional symptoms:
- body/muscle aches
- weakness, fatigue
- cough
- sore throat
- rash
- sinus congestion.

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4
Q

Red flag symptoms

A
  • non-blanching rash
  • vomiting
  • febrile convulsions
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5
Q

Simple febrile convulsion

A

Most often in children aged 6 months to 6 years old
- Can happen when there is a rapid rise in temperature
- Followed by a seizure
- but can occur as your child’s temperature drops from a high level
- lasting < 5 minutes

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6
Q

Complex febrile convulsion

A

> 15 minutes and can recur

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7
Q

Common conditions which can cause fever

A
  • Post-immunisation fever
    Conditions:
  • URTI
  • Flu
  • Ear infection
  • Tonsilitis
  • Roseola (virus that causes temp + rash)
  • Kidney or UTI
  • Common childhood illnesses: chicken pox, whooping cough
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8
Q

Symptomatic treatment

A
  1. Reduce temperature
    Antipyretics
    - Paracetamol or Ibuprofen
  2. Prevent dehydration
    Encourage child to drink cool clear fluids
    Keep room cool - 18⁰C
    Sponging with cold water not recommended to reduce fever
  3. Assess or monitor for life-threatening illness
    Monitor temperature regularly
    Look out for warning signs
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9
Q

Antipyretics available

A
  • Calpol Infant sugar free Strawberry Flavour (2 + months)
  • Calpol Six Plus sugar free Strawberry flavour
  • Nurofen Strawberry flavour (3 months to 9 yrs)
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10
Q

Calpol infant sugar free Strawberry Flavour

A
  • 2 months to 6 yrs
  • syringe included
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11
Q

Calpol Six Plus sugar free Strawberry flavour

A

6 - 16yrs

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12
Q

Nurofen Strawberry flavour

A
  • 3 months to 9 yrs
  • Up to 8hrs pain and fever relief
  • Starts to work in 15 mins
  • Syringe

Caution
Gastric irritation
Caution in asthmatics

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13
Q

Referral

A
  • <3 months old + temp of 38C or above
  • 3-6 months + temp of 39C or above
  • Treatment failure
  • Fever > 5 days
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