Hay Que Dejar Dormir A Un Niño Con Fiebre

Should You Let a Child with a Fever Sleep?

Understanding the Risks and Benefits

When a child has a fever, parents often face the dilemma of whether to let them sleep or wake them up to give them medicine. There are risks and benefits to both approaches, and the best decision will depend on the individual child and the severity of their fever.

Risks of Letting a Child with a Fever Sleep

There are some risks associated with letting a child with a fever sleep. These include:

• High fever: A fever that is over 104 degrees Fahrenheit can be dangerous, and it is important to seek medical attention if your child's fever reaches this level.
• Febrile seizures: Some children are prone to febrile seizures, which are seizures that are triggered by a fever. While febrile seizures are usually harmless, they can be frightening for parents.
• Meningitis: Meningitis is a serious bacterial infection that can cause fever, headache, and stiff neck. In some cases, meningitis can be fatal.

If your child has any of the following symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention right away:

• Fever over 104 degrees Fahrenheit
• Febrile seizures
• Meningitis symptoms (headache, stiff neck, fever)

Benefits of Letting a Child with a Fever Sleep

There are also some benefits to letting a child with a fever sleep. These include:

• Sleep helps the body fight infection: When a child is sleeping, their immune system is able to produce more infection-fighting cells.
• Sleep helps reduce fever: When a child is sleeping, their body temperature naturally decreases.
• Sleep helps prevent dehydration: When a child is sleeping, they are less likely to move around and sweat, which can help prevent dehydration.

So, Should You Let Your Child with a Fever Sleep?

The decision of whether or not to let your child with a fever sleep is a difficult one. There are risks and benefits to both approaches, and the best decision will depend on the individual child and the severity of their fever.

If your child is under 6 months old, has a fever over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, or has any of the symptoms of meningitis, it is important to seek medical attention right away.

For children over 6 months old with a fever, you can try letting them sleep and monitoring their symptoms. If their symptoms improve, you can continue to let them sleep. However, if their symptoms worsen or they develop any new symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention.

Tips for Letting a Child with a Fever Sleep

If you decide to let your child with a fever sleep, there are some things you can do to help make sure they are safe and comfortable:

• Dress your child in light, loose clothing: This will help prevent them from getting too hot or cold.
• Make sure your child is well-hydrated: Offer them plenty of fluids, such as water, juice, or milk.
• Monitor your child's temperature: Take their temperature every 2-3 hours to make sure it is not getting too high.
• Call your doctor if your child's symptoms worsen or they develop any new symptoms: This could be a sign of a more serious illness.