Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Högler, head of the University Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Kepler University Hospital in Linz, explains that most infections do not require presentation to the hospital because there are also numerous options for support in the hospital bed at home.

Help for self-help with infections

Currently, an extremely large number of children are affected by respiratory infections and the clinics' outpatient departments are full of young patients, which sometimes results in waiting hours.  Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Högler, head of the University Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Kepler University Hospital in Linz, understands the parents' concerns. However, he emphasizes that there are numerous ways to give little patients relief at home before visiting the pediatrician or going to the hospital:

“Fever-reducing and anti-inflammatory medications, as well as home remedies that our grandmothers already knew, are an effective first step to reduce fever, relieve coughs and contribute to the well-being of children.  These tried and tested remedies have sometimes been forgotten and should be used more frequently again. A call to the health hotline 1450 can also provide reassurance. In this way, children can often be spared the trip to the hospital with all the associated stress, and our emergency department can devote all its expertise to those who most need acute treatment. Prevention , i.e. avoiding infections, is another way to protect yourself and your children from infections in epidemics like the ones we are currently experiencing. All respiratory infections are transmitted by droplets and spread quickly in families. Wearing masks therefore protects against RS and influenza viruses as well as against corona viruses. Better than this so-called exposure prophylaxis is the flu vaccination, which is recommended for children from the age of 6 months.”

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Högler, head of the University Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Kepler University Hospital in Linz

What is fever?

Infections produce messenger substances in the body (so-called cytokines ) that influence the regulation of body temperature in the brain. A fever is a rectally measured body temperature of over 38°C. elsewhere (skin folds, ear, oral ) differ by up to 0.5°C. In the case of infants and small children, it is recommended to measure the temperature in the anus ( rectally ) - this is called core temperature. Measures to reduce the temperature can be taken from 39°C. It is important to know that the body uses the higher core temperature, i.e. fever, to fight the underlying pathogen of the infection and is not very dangerous as long as the fever does not exceed 41°C.

Fever-reducing, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory medications

These medications include all child-friendly pharmacy products that ibuprofen or paracetamol. Both products reduce fever and relieve pain, and ibuprofen is also anti-inflammatory. They are available as juice, suppositories or tablets and can be administered several times a day. The administration and dosage of all medications must of course be carried out according to the package leaflet or after consultation with a doctor or pharmacist.

Practical tips for treating infections at home

“Complementary methods from the time of our grandmothers are always a way to improve the well-being of children,”  

Deputy Nursing Director Klara Dienstl

Calf and pot wraps

A particularly effective method for reducing fever is calf and curd or curd wraps. The calf wrap is used, for example, for fever. To do this you have to place an outer wrap under your calf. The inner towels should be laid out calf-width, rolled up, dipped in lukewarm water and wrung out. Now you can place them loosely on both legs between the knees and ankles and wrap them with the outer cloth. When the inner cloth is warm, the wrap needs to be replaced - this process should be repeated three to four times. Always make sure your legs are warm! Then you should dry your legs, cover them, check the temperature and rest.

The curd/quark compress is used for fever, bronchitis and pneumonia and has an antipyretic, cough-relieving and expectorant effect. You should apply the room-temperature curd to a finger-thick sheet on a sheet of kitchen roll, cover it with another sheet and place it on your chest. There is an intermediate cloth over it and the upper body is twisted into the outer cloth. For infants and small children, it may be necessary to additionally secure the wrap to achieve a good hold (e.g. with a bodysuit or a tight sweater).

If you have a fever, you should remove the compress as soon as the curd has dried. Otherwise, it can be left in place for up to three hours - if you feel chilly, it must be removed immediately! A pot wrap can be applied twice a day. Attention: Do not use if you are allergic to cow's milk protein!

If you have an infection, rest and drink plenty of fluids

When you have a cold, the main thing that helps is rest and lots of fluids (chicken broth, soups, teas, warm water). Herbal teas such as elderflower tea or chamomile tea have an expectorant, diaphoretic and anti-inflammatory effect. If the child has a sore throat or complains of a scratchy throat, they can drink chamomile or sage tea to relieve it. If schoolchildren and teenagers have a sore throat, it also helps to gargle with the tea. This relieves the inflammation and cleanses the mucous membranes in the throat. Small children who cannot yet gargle are given sips of chamomile tea.

Magic remedy onion

Fill a bag with chopped onions and hang it next to your bed at night. The onion scents clear your nose. Homemade onion juice also helps with coughs because it has an antibacterial and expectorant effect. To do this, a large onion can be chopped into small pieces and placed in a screw-top jar along with three tablespoons of honey. The onion syrup should then be left to steep for six to eight hours and then strained. You can give the child two to three teaspoons of this juice three times a day until the cough has subsided. You have to change the syrup every two to three days and keep it in the refrigerator. Attention: The juice is only suitable for older children, as children under one year of age are not allowed to consume honey (risk of allergy) and the onions can have a flatulent effect.

Potatoes also help

A potato chest compress can help against coughs. To do this you have to cook two to three jacket potatoes, mash them and flatten them in a tea towel. You should definitely let the wrap cool down for about ten minutes (temperature test on your own forearm, attention: risk of burns!). The wrap can be placed on the child's chest as long as it is nice and warm.

Source:

German health portal
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