Therapy for three-day fever

Synonyms

Exanthema subitum, Roseola infantum, Sixth Disease

definition

The three-day fever describes a viral disease. Here, after about three days of fever, a widespread rash, a so-called rash, usually occurs on the trunk and neck.

therapy

The therapy of three-day fever in children is divided into the following points:

• fever
• Rash
• Febrile seizures
• Antiviral therapy
• Indigestion (diarrhea, vomiting)

Fever therapy

In the case of a three-day fever, symptomatic treatment of the fever, i.e. lowering of the fever, can be carried out in the first few days. This can be attempted first with the usual home remedies, such as plenty of bed rest, warmth, hydration, and warm clothing.

Likewise, moist, lukewarm calf compresses can be used, which support the heat dissipation through evaporation.

Here, cloths are soaked in lukewarm water, wrung out and placed around the child's lower legs. It is important that the water is really lukewarm, as too cold calf compresses cause the vessels of the legs to contract and the body's heat dissipation deteriorates. Dry towels can be placed under and over the damp wraps to prevent the bed from getting wet. The moisture from the calf compresses is driven to evaporate by the increased body heat, which cools the skin.

The calf wraps should be changed as soon as they are warmed up. 2-3 passes can be carried out.

Since leg compresses may be more difficult to perform in children under one year of age, the body can also be washed off with lukewarm water. It is important that calf compresses are only used on children whose circulation is in order and whose extremities (arms and hands as well as legs and feet) are warm.

Sufficient fluid intake is just as essential in the case of a fever, as the body loses a lot of fluid during a fever. Water, juices or tea are recommended. It is also best to encourage the child to drink every half an hour.

If these measures are not sufficient, the fever can also be lowered with medication. Paracetamol or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are suitable for this. Such medications can either be swallowed as drops, tablets or used as suppositories, depending on the doctor's instructions.

Read more on the topic: When should I see a doctor with a fever?

Absolutely no way allowed children Acetylsalicylic acid (ASS), as it can cause Reye's syndrome in children.

Reye's syndrome is a serious illness of liver and Brain, causing severe liver dysfunction and subsequent impairment of brain function. This allows it to Impaired consciousness and Seizures come. It can even end up to coma and Apnea lead and end fatally.

Treatment of the rash / itching

A causal therapy around the typical, in the context of the three-day fever, Rash Treating the trunk and neck does not exist. Depending on the symptoms, one is sufficient here symptomatic Therapy.
Read our article on this: Rash on the neck

Usually, the rash is not itchy. Nevertheless, some sufferers complain of an itching of the raised ones Vesicles, Pustules or Wheals. To prevent scarring, the affected areas should if possible not scratched become. This is especially true in the case of a rash on the face, since this is where scarring is particularly common on wounds and these are later perceived as particularly annoying.

Against the itching help certain Creams and tinctures. Consultation with the attending physician is advisable before use. Also exist herbal and homeopathic Remedies against itching, the effectiveness of which is usually not proven, but can lead to an improvement in the symptoms in individual cases.

Since the rash in the context of the three-day fever was only very severe short duration the itching usually disappears after a short time.

Therapy of febrile seizures

Febrile convulsions can rarely occur during a rise in fever in three-day fever. These can be treated with medication using sedatives.

Diazepam or clonazepam can be used as drugs. Both drugs belong to the benzodiazepines and have an antispasmodic, anxiolytic and sedating effect. These can be used as prophylaxis for a febrile seizure. It is important that the side effects are observed and that the administration does not last longer than 72 hours.

In the event of an acute attack, you should also ensure that objects, especially those that could injure the child (sharp or pointed objects), are not within reach.

Breathing should also be observed. A reduced number of breaths and a blue discoloration of the skin can definitely occur. An acute seizure usually ends on its own. However, if it exceeds 10-15 minutes, the convulsion should be interrupted with diazepam.

It is recommended that a child be admitted to hospital after a seizure.

Lowering the fever can prevent another seizure, as the fever is a cause of a febrile seizure.

Read more at this point under: Febrile seizure

Antiviral therapy

The Three-day fever is one through Viruses triggered illness. So are Antibiotics in this case ineffective, as this only applies to bacterial Diseases work.

However, there is currently no sufficiently proven antiviral therapy.

In rare cases, when the disease reactivates, complications such as Encephalitis (Encephalitis) come. Here it is discussed whether a therapy with the drugs Ganciclovir or Cidofovir (two Antivirals) makes sense. However, an effect and sensible application have not yet been fully clarified. The antiviral is also under discussion Foscarnet, which in the test tube has an effect against the human herpes virus 6 (HH-6) shows. The humane Herpes viruses 6 and 7 are considered to be the trigger for the rash that occurs during the three-day fever.

Therapy of digestive problems

If there are other accompanying symptoms such as diarrhea or Vomit on, should also this symptomatic be treated. In the case of diarrhea, this is also sufficient Hydration important.

How long should one therapy?

Therapy for three-day fever is carried out exclusively symptomatic. The duration of treatment therefore depends on the duration of the respective complaints. The fever can be controlled, for example, with antipyretic medication. After a few days, the therapy can be discontinued under control of the symptoms.

The duration of the fever is usually 3-5 days, then suddenly disappears and goes into one that affects the entire body Rash over. Other symptoms like to cough, itching or Febrile seizures should only be a few days until the symptoms subside be treated.

Homeopathy for three-day fever

Parents of affected children increasingly express their desire to treat the disease with homeopathic medication. The effectiveness of these agents has not yet been proven in any study, which is why additional conventional medical care to control the symptoms is always recommended.

Typical homeopathic remedies that are often used for three-day fever are Ferrum phosphoricum, Belladonna, Aconitum and Pulsatilla.

Read more on the topic: Homeopathy for three days of fever

forecast

In conclusion, it can be stated that the prognosis for three-day fever (provided there is no complication such as a Encephalitis occurs) very good is.

Treatment should be symptomatic and the fever should be reduced through drug and non-drug routes. Otherwise the disease mostly heals, even in the case of febrile convulsions without permanent damage out.

Summary

The Three-day fever is a childhood disease that heals by itself after about a week and does not damage the child.

Therefore, one normally does not need medical treatment, at most a lowering of the high one Fever may be necessary. At home, the parents can try to support the child’s own defenses with plenty of fluids and e.g. Support vitamin C and lower the fever with compresses soaked in lukewarm water (no ice, no alcohol!). The child can be medicated e.g. Use paracetamol or ibuprofen.

aspirin should reduce fever in children avoided as this drug can cause Reye's syndrome in children, which can lead to liver failure and death.

If you have a three-day fever no antibiotic used because antibiotics are only effective against bacteria, but three-day fever from one virus caused.

When it comes to one Febrile seizure should come, it is necessary to call a doctor, who will give the child an antispasmodic drug (e.g. Diazepam) treated. If necessary, the child should be admitted to hospital for observation.

Only with rare, severe complications of three-day fever such as one Encephalitis (Encephalitis) or in people with suppressed immune system (Immunosuppression) an antiviral drug (e.g. ganciclovir) can be used in addition.