parents about how to gauge how ill their
child is (Dyas et al 2007). McIntyre (2011)
stated that health education efforts should
concentrate on two areas: assurance and
advice. Parents should be assured that
fever can make a child with a minor illness
look and feel unwell, but fever is a natural
defence mechanism. Its presence indicates
that the immune system is working well to
aid recovery and provide future immune
protection against similar infections. It is
important to reassure parents that fever is not
harmful and it is the underlying infection or
illness that has the potential to cause the child
harm (McIntyre 2011, NICE 2013).
NICE (2013) recommends that if a child
is deemed well enough to be cared for at
home, parents should be given advice on
how to manage the fever with verbal or
written information on the warning signs and
symptoms of serious illness. Advice for parents
or carers looking after a feverish child at home
is to (NICE 2013):
Offer the child regular fluids (where a baby
or child is breastfed the most appropriate
fluid is breast milk).
Encourage the child to drink more.
Do not underdress or overwrap the child.
Use antipyretics appropriately.
Look for signs of a non-blanching rash.
Check the child during the night.
Keep the child away from nursery or school
while the fever persists, but notify the school
or nursery of the illness.
It is also important that parents are made
aware of how to access further advice if
they become concerned about their child
(safety net advice). Following initial contact
with a healthcare professional, parents and
carers who are looking after the feverish
child at home should seek further advice if
(NICE 2013):
The child has a fit.
The child develops a non-blanching rash.
The parent or carer feels that the child is
less well than when they previously sought
advice.
The parent or carer is more concerned
than when they previously sought advice.
The fever lasts longer than five days.
The parent or carer is distressed or
concerned that they are unable to look
after the child.
Complete time out activity 5