Hello, my name is Gregory. When I was a young lad, I had to enter the health care world in an unexpected way. I developed a serious disease out of the blue that took doctors by surprise. I went through so many different testing procedures before my doctors could diagnose the rare disease. Everyone around me reeled as they tried to understand the purpose and process of the diagnostic tests. I hope to help others understand these important tests better through this website. Please come by often to learn all you need to know about medical diagnostics and working closely with health care professionals.
Talking About Diagnostic Tests For Medical Care
Children And Fevers - When Should A Family Doctor Be Seen?
Nanja Bongers
If you have a young child, then you likely understand that children get sick a great deal. Thankfully, kids will experience fewer colds and flus as they age. However, in the meantime, your child may develop some fairly serious symptoms when he or she does get sick. Fevers are concerning to parents, but they are rarely dangerous. There are some signs that you should seek care from your family doctor though, so keep reading to find out what these signs are.
Long-Lasting Fever
Fevers develop to help fight off viruses. They increase the metabolism so the body can get to work fighting the illness and they increase the body's temperature to a level that is not ideal for viruses. Higher temperature also causes the body to hold onto nutrients like iron. Pathogens require iron to stay alive, so this helps to starve them.
Fevers occur in conjunction with the body's other defenses to fight off pathogens, and the immune system works fairly quickly to eradicate diseases. This is one reason why fevers are typically only present for a few days. The fever reduces as the virus is killed and your child recovers.
If a fever remains for longer than a few days and stays relatively high, then this is a sign that the body is still fighting off a microorganism. The pathogen is still present in the body, and your child's natural immune defenses are not working to eradicate the disease. In this situation, your child may need an antiviral medication to help kill the virus. Also, an infection may be present that requires antibiotic treatment. In certain situations, your child may also have something called fever of unknown origin. Tests may be needed to find the cause of the fever.
Onset Of Seizures
It is not uncommon for a child to have a seizure when experiencing a high fever at or above 105 degrees Fahrenheit. These seizures are called febrile seizures and are the result of the fever and its effects on the brain. The brain becomes overly stressed and irritated and needs to "reboot" in an attempt to reduce the stress.
The seizures are usually harmless. However, breathing may become labored after a febrile seizure. Also, the seizures are likely to recur and may be exacerbated by an electrolyte imbalance. This means that a doctor should investigate the situation, especially if your child has never had a seizure before.
If your child is experiencing the flu with a fever, then it is always wise to speak with your child's family doctor about the situation. The professional can provide you with information on how to treat the disease and also how to identify a serious complication. Contact a company like Kinston Medical Specialists PA for more information and assistance.
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