Nonpharmacologic strategies for management of a fever in a child include Quizlet

Q: What is the management for fever?

Rest and drink plenty of fluids. Medication isnt needed. Call the doctor if the fever is accompanied by a severe headache, stiff neck, shortness of breath, or other unusual signs or symptoms. If youre uncomfortable, take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or aspirin.

Acta Paul Enferm. 2021; 34: eAPE00743

Review Article

Inhaltsverzeichnis Show

Acta Paul Enferm. 2021; 34: eAPE00743
Conclusion:
Throat swab
Lifestyle and home remedies
Preparing for your appointment
What you can do
What to expect from your doctor
What are the non pharmacological approaches in managing fever?
Which non pharmacological interventions should the nurse implement at this time to address the child's fever?
What is the management for fever?
How can I lower my child's temperature naturally?

Mariana Vieira de Souza

, Elaine Buchhorn Cintra Damião

, Soraia Matilde Marques Buchhorn

, Lisabelle Mariano Rossato

DOI: 10.37689/acta-ape/2021AR00743

Abstract

Objective:

To identify non-pharmacological interventions for fever and hyperthermia in children indicated in the scientific literature.

Methods:

an integrative literature review carried out in the LILACS, PubMed and CINAHL databases and in the COCHRANE and SciELO libraries. Articles that addressed non-pharmacological interventions for fever and hyperthermia, published in Portuguese and English, from 2000 to 2019, have been included.

Results:

The sample consisted of 27 articles, which were grouped, according to their similarities, into seven categories. The interventions used were baths, warm compresses, sponging, encouraging fluid intake, ice packs, cooled blankets, and room ventilation. Different interventions were observed in non-pharmacological fever and hyperthermia management.

Conclusion:

Practicing non-pharmacological measures alone is not recommended for fever treatment in children, except for interventions that assist in the physiological responses of the body. The results highlight the recommendation of conducting further research that results in evidence to support the best care provided by pediatric nurses to children with fever.

Diagnosis

During the physical exam, your health care provider will:

Look at the condition of your child's throat, tonsils and tongue
Feel your child's neck to determine if lymph nodes are enlarged
Assess the appearance and texture of the rash

Throat swab

If your health care provider suspects strep is the cause of your child's illness, your provider will swab the tonsils and back of your child's throat to collect material that may have the strep bacteria.

A rapid strep test can identify the bacteria quickly, usually during your child's appointment. If the rapid test is negative, but your health care provider still thinks strep bacteria is the cause of your child's illness, a strep throat culture can be done. It can take longer to get the results of this test.

Tests for the strep bacteria are important because a number of conditions can cause the signs and symptoms of scarlet fever, and these illnesses may require different treatments. If there are no strep bacteria, then some other factor is causing the illness.

Treatment

For scarlet fever, your health care provider will prescribe an antibiotic. Make sure your child takes all of the medication as directed. If your child doesn't follow the treatment guidelines, treatment may not completely eliminate the infection, which can increase your child's risk of developing complications.

Use ibuprofen (Advil, Children's Motrin, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) to control the fever and minimize throat pain. Check with your child's health care provider about the right dosage.

Your child can return to school after having taken antibiotics for at least 12 hours and no longer having a fever.

Lifestyle and home remedies

During scarlet fever, you can take several steps to reduce your child's discomfort and pain.

Plan plenty of rest. Sleep helps the body fight infection. Have your child rest until feeling better. Also, keep your child at home until there's no sign of fever and antibiotics have been taken for at least 12 hours.
Encourage plenty of water. Keeping a sore throat lubricated and moist eases swallowing and helps prevent dehydration.
Prepare a saltwater gargle. For older children and adults, gargling several times a day can help relieve throat pain. Mix 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 grams) of table salt in 8 ounces (237 milliliters) of warm water. Be sure to tell your child to spit out the liquid after gargling.
Humidify the air. Adding moisture to the air can help ease discomfort. Choose a cool-mist humidifier and clean it daily because bacteria and molds can flourish in some humidifiers. Saline nasal sprays also help keep mucous membranes moist.
Offer honey. Honey can be used to soothe sore throats. Don't give honey to children younger than 12 months.
Offer soothing foods. Easy-to-swallow foods include soups, applesauce, cooked cereal, mashed potatoes, soft fruits, yogurt and soft-cooked eggs. You can puree foods in a blender to make them easier to swallow. Cold foods, such as sherbet, frozen yogurt or frozen fruit pops, and warm liquids, such as broth, may be soothing. Avoid spicy foods or acidic foods such as orange juice.
Avoid irritants. Cigarette smoke can irritate a sore throat. Also avoid fumes from substances that can irritate the throat and lungs. These substances can include paint, cleaning products, incense and essential oils.

Preparing for your appointment

You're likely to first see your family health care provider or your child's pediatrician. However, when you call to set up your appointment, you may be urged to seek immediate medical care.

What you can do

Before your appointment, you might want to make a list of questions for the health care provider. These may include:

How soon after starting treatment will my child begin to feel better?
Is my child at risk of any long-term complications related to scarlet fever?
Is there anything I can do to help soothe my child's skin while it heals?
When can my child return to school?
Is my child contagious? How can I reduce my child's risk of passing the illness to others?
Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing? What if my child is allergic to penicillin?

Don't hesitate to ask additional questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your health care provider is likely to ask you a number of questions. Your provider may ask:

When did your child begin experiencing symptoms?
Has your child had a sore throat or difficulty swallowing?
Has your child had a fever? How high was the fever, and how long did it last?
Has your child had abdominal pain or vomiting?
Has your child been eating adequately?
Has your child complained of headache?
Has your child recently had a strep infection?
Has your child recently been exposed to anyone with a strep infection?
Has your child been diagnosed with any other medical conditions?
Is your child currently taking any medications?
Does your child have medication allergies?

Being ready to answer questions may reserve time to go over any points you want to talk about in-depth.

What are the non pharmacological approaches in managing fever?

The interventions used were baths, warm compresses, sponging, encouraging fluid intake, ice packs, cooled blankets, and room ventilation.

Which non pharmacological interventions should the nurse implement at this time to address the child's fever?

Nonpharmacological measures, such as drinking fluids to prevent dehydration, maintaining a comfortable room temperature, and wearing lightweight clothing, should also be incorporated into treatment.

What is the management for fever?

Rest and drink plenty of fluids. Medication isn't needed. Call the doctor if the fever is accompanied by a severe headache, stiff neck, shortness of breath, or other unusual signs or symptoms. If you're uncomfortable, take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or aspirin.