Patient's question:
In the afternoon, my temperature was a bit high with a fever of 37.7 degrees. After using a physical cooling method, I slept for a while. At night, besides the same temperature, I used the physical cooling method again (giving him a hair wash, applying alcohol to the palms and soles for heat conduction). When sleeping at night, it seemed that touching the forehead was no longer hot...Doctor's answer:
The basal body temperature of children is much higher than that of adults, so a temperature of 37.6°C is not considered low-grade fever. If the child does not have other symptoms of fever or inflammation, it is normal. The body temperature regulation center of children is not very stable, making it prone to repeated fluctuations in body temperature. Unlike adults, whose body temperature regulation centers have developed very well. Therefore, if the child's temperature is around 37.7°C and there are no discomfort symptoms, there is no problem. The temperature fluctuation is not caused by organic disease but because the child's body temperature regulation center has not yet fully developed.Advice: Regarding your question about how to reduce fever, if the child has a fever at home, physical cooling methods can be used. The most effective methods are ice bag cooling and alcohol bathing. Ice bag cooling involves placing an ice bag on areas where major blood vessels run, such as the forehead, armpits, and groin, to lower the temperature. If you don’t have an ice bag, you can fill a soda bottle with water, freeze it in the refrigerator, wrap it in a towel, and use it for cooling on the child’s forehead, armpits, and groin.
For alcohol bathing, you have already tried it. It is recommended to use high-proof liquor, as alcohol’s ability to dissolve and conduct heat helps lower the temperature. Apply it every half hour to the child’s limbs.
I hope this helps you, and I wish your child good health!