How to Handle a Baby’s Fever with Cold Hands and Feet and Shivering

Question

The baby suddenly had a high fever in the afternoon. After taking fever-reducing medicine, there was still some fever, but by nightfall, the baby’s hands and feet were cold and the whole body was trembling. The baby kept saying they were very cold. After nearly an hour, the baby started to feel hot all over, saying ‘so hot, so hot.’ What should I do? Urgent!

Answer

A child’s fever can have many causes, possibly due to excessive physical activity during the day, resulting in sweating and a chilled back that leads to a high fever at night. At this time, you can wipe the baby’s entire body with warm water, especially under the armpits, and do not wrap the baby too tightly. Give the child some fever-reducing syrup and always use a thermometer to measure their temperature. If they start to sweat quickly after taking the medicine, that’s good; they are currently dissipating heat and will soon cool down. Remember to change the baby into dry clothes after sweating to ensure their comfort.

Question

My baby suddenly had a high fever this afternoon. After taking the fever-reducing medicine, there was still some heat, but by evening, the baby’s hands and feet were cold and the whole body was shivering. The baby kept saying they were very cold. After about an hour, the baby started feeling hot all over, saying ‘so hot, so hot.’ What should I do? Urgent!

Answer

There can be various reasons for a child’s fever. It might be due to excessive physical activity during the day, leading to sweating and a chilled back that causes a high fever at night. In this case, you can gently wipe the baby’s entire body with warm water, focusing on the armpits, but avoid wrapping them too tightly. Administer some fever-reducing syrup to the child and continuously monitor their temperature with a thermometer. If they start sweating promptly after taking the medicine, it’s a positive sign; they are currently cooling down and should soon have their temperature return to normal. Be sure to change the baby into dry clothing after they have perspired to prevent discomfort.