Fever, Simple

WFever is elevation of body temperature above the normal value 37 °(98.6f) . Fever b itself is not a disease, but it is a Symptom of many a disease from the most simple to the fatal. In infants the mild periods of pyrexia mark the acquisition of immunity from the micro organisms with which man has to live.
In normal children delivered at term, the temperature directly after birth is elevated to 37.7 °C to 38.2°C (in the rectum), but in a very few hours, this temperature goes down becoming normal at the end of 24 hours, 36.6 °to 37.°c..The temperature may sometimes suddenly go to 38-39°C and even higher on the third or fourth day of life. This is so called transitory or dehydration fever of the newborn,  which is probably due to an inadequate fluid intake.
Mild disturbance of the evening temperature (37.2°to 3707°C) for prolonged periods are by no means uncommon in early life, and the physical examination often draws
blank. During the entire period of infancy, temperature vacillations (the difference between morning and evening temperatures) not exceeding 0.3°C are characteristic. The rectal and mouth temperatures come in separate shapes. The rectal thermometer has a round bulb so that it is not not sharp, while the mouth thermometer has a long slender bulb so that the mercury in the bulb can be more quickly warmed in the mouth.
In older children, sometimes the temperature can be taken under the armpit. The temperature in the armpit is about one degree Fahrenheit lower than the mouth temperature.
Before taking the rectal temperature, the baby should be laid on its stomach across the mother's or nurse's knees, so that the baby cannot squirm out of this the ceasily.
Now a days most of thermometers are available in degrees Celsius (C°) To facilitate  the conversion into degrees Fahrenheit (F°), the following chart will be helpful.

Fahrenheit              Celsius
97                                 36.1
98                                 36.7
98.6                             37
99                                37.2
100                             37.8
101                            38.8
102                            38.9
103                           39.4
104                           40
105                           40.6
106                           41.1

*For conversion of degree Celsius to Fahrenheit multiply by 9/5 and add 32. To convert degrees Fahrenheit to degree Celsius subtract 32 and multiply by 5/9.
In infants and children, it is necessary that besides temperature, the rate of respiration and the pulse should also be observed to establish a ratio between these. In certain diseases like parathyroid, the temperature and pulse ratio is disturbed.
The comparative respiration and pulse rates ratio of infants and children are given below,,

Age   pulse per minute     respiration
                                             Per minute

In utero     150_140            _
New born    140_130           _
During
Ist year        130_115           35 
Second
Year              115_100            25
Third
Year                100_95            _
8_14
Years               84                  20
                                               Puberty

Generally, for every degree Fahrenheit temperature rises in a child,  respiration rate increases by two or three and pulse rate increases by 10 beats.
It is advisable to take the temperature of a child during fever, every two hours, and in the persistent fevers to prepare a temperature chart to judge the type of ailment and other irregularities.
Effects
Many infants and young children develop convulsions at high temperature of say 39 or 40 °c. Continuous high temperature may also lead to meningitis and brain damage..

Homoeopathic Therapeutics
Aconite Fever after exposure to dry, cold weather or chilling of body after over heating especially when warm and sweaty. One of the oft used remedies in the initial stages of fevers which come on suddenly and are accompanied by chill, cold sweat and icy coldness of face. The child is chilly when uncovered or touched. Skin dry and hot with violent thirst. The child is restless and anxious, tosses about in bed with full bounding pulse. The fever often terminate with perspiration. This remedy is also useful for chill and fever preceding the inflammatory fever. The child with red face, great heat and outward pressing, headache during fever is especially benefited by this remedy. Fever caused by Fright or fear.
Supplementary treatment
In case of high temperatures 39.5_40*c,it is necessary to adopt accessory measures like cold compress or cold sponging or even cold immersion to bring down the temperature. The details are here,,,,
Cold sponging, cold sponging cleans the skin and stimulates its action. It cools the body and brings down the temperature. It works like massage to the skin. Water at a temperature of 18°c is used.
Take a wet towel without wringing much water from it. Pass it over the surface of a limb. Then rub the limb with another towel, soaked in water and wrung out..
After sponging, cover the body with dry cloth, or a thin blanket. Change the bed sheet. Change the clothes of the patient also. He will feel quite refreshed.
For lowering the temperature, vigorous and prolonged sponging with an abundant supply of water is required.
Cold compress  A cold compress is a local application of cold by means of a cloth wrung from cold water. Towels of ordinary cotton clothes may be used. Several folds of old cloth are dipped in cold water and wrung out. They can be dipped in ice water also. The wringing should be barely sufficient to prevent dropping.
The compress must be frequently renewed always before it is warmed to any great extent. The thicker the compress, the less frequency will it require for renewal.
Cold immersion  This is more drastic method than wet pack. It is used when wet pack cannot be relief upon to reduce the temperature and quicker lowering of temperature is needed than can be accomplished by wet pack.
Place the patient in stub,  half filled with water, add on cold water. Let the body be completely immersed in cold water. If a suitable bath tub is not available let the patient sit on stool or cot. Cover his body with a wet sheet. Now go on poring water over the cover. Temperature will be brought down quickly. Then dry up his body with a dry towel and place him in the bed. Cover the body of the child with a sheet or a blanket..

Homoeopathic therapeutics.
Aconite  Fever after exposure to dry, cold weather or chilling of body after over heating especially when the warm and sweaty. One of the oft used remedies in the initial stages of fevers which come on suddenly and are accompanied by chill, cold sweat and icy coldness of face. The child is chilly when uncovered or touched. Skin dry and hot with violent thirst. The child is Restless and anxious, tosses about in bed with full bounding pulse. The fever often terminates with perspiration. This remedy is also useful for chill and fever preceding the inflammatory fever. The child with red face, great heat and outward pressing headache during fever is especially benefited by this remedy. Fever caused by Fright or fear.
Belladonna  High feverish state,  flushed face and thirstlessness from a reliable trio for indication of this remedy. The skin is burning and steaming hot, with feet icy cold. Throbbing headache. Sweat on covered parts.

Hyperpyrexia with cerebral symptoms like delirium and convulsions make it an important remedy in the therapeutics of children. The child is restless, excited and cannot sleep even though sleepy. Belladonna is known for its suddenness of onset. The child was alright now but suddenly feels warm which changes to terrible heat in a few hours. The fever is worse at night.
This remedy in alternation with pyrogen proves to be a useful in the hands of Homoeopathician, against high fevers when symptoms agree.
Bryonia
Fever with great dryness of mucous membranes like lips, mouth, and tongue. The lips are parched and cracked with excessive thirst for large quantities of water at infrequent intervals. This remedy is especially useful when fever is accompanied by constipation or very dry and burnt stools. The child wants to lie down quietly. Cold, chilly sensations predominance in Bryonia. Pulse is full, hard,  tense and quick. Pain in head and chest on coughing. Usually, there is intense headache, with a sensation as if head would burst.
Ferrum phos
Useful in initial stages of catarrhal and inflammatory fevers. This remedy stands midway between Aconite and Belladonna and is useful for nervous, sensitive and anaemic children who flush easily. Fever with chill at 1pm. The pulse is short, quick and soft. The remedy should be given in 3 x potency and may be repeated depending upon the severity of fever.
Gelsemium
One of the Grand remedies against fever in infants and children when dullness, dizziness and drowsiness are present. The face is hot, heavily flushed and besotted looking. Pulse is slow, full and soft. The child lies down quietly and does not want to speak or have anyone nearby, it is in a semi stupor state. Chill in waves, along spine, without thirst. Fever caused by exposure to cold and dampness. Occipital headache. One of the important symptoms accompanying fever is the fear of falling, the child grabs the mother or the nurse or crib. During fever,  the child has heavy eyelids, can hardly open eyes.
Merc sol . Fever with creeping chilliness especially in the evening and in the night. One of the important symptoms of this remedy is profuse sweats, at night without relief. More the child sweats, worse he is. This remedy is especially indicated in bilious or gastric fevers. Tongue is thick, moist, heavy and shows indentations. Great thirst moist mouth. Dry mouth cnotra indicates Merc.
Nux vom.
Fever with constant chilliness in the most striking symptom of this remedy. The body is burning hot, but the child cannot uncover itself without feeling chilly, after some time the covers are also not tolerated due to ebullition of warmth. Thus there is an alternation of heat and cold. Excessive rigor with blueness of nails. Tongue coated yellow or white with bitter taste.
The fever usually sets in after midnight or early morning around 6 to 7 A. M. The child wants to be near fire when the chill comes. Fever with obstinate and ineffectual constipation almost surely needs this remedy.
Pulsatilla
Fever with chilliness even in a warm room, worse in the evening around, 4P.M. External heat is intolerable, Veins are distended, the child seeks a cold spots as his whole body, hands feet burn  if feels hot water is dashed over him. Fever preceded by gastric disturbance like diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea etc. Mouth dry yet thirstless. One sided sweat. Tongue coated white or yellow and is covered with tenacious mucus. The child complaints of bitterness in the mouth and becomes more sensitive and touchy during fever.
Pyrogen. Suitable for septic fevers when temp rises rapidly. Hyperpyrexia with great heat and profuse sweat, but swearing does not bring down the temperature. One of the important symptoms of this remedy is that the pulse is abnormally rapid, out of proportion to the temperature. Tongue dry, large flabby, smooth and shiny as if vanished. Fever with great soreness of the body, bed seema too hard,. The child has a vacant, agonized look. This remedy is useful, when the best selected remedies fail to relive or cure. Great loquacity and frequent urination during fever.
Rhux tox
Fever caused by drenching in rain,  or bathing, in rivers, or ponds, or living in damp rooms. Pain in the whole body. The child stretches a great deal, yawns louder and changes position continually (italics mine)  as the changing of position provides relief. The child feels weary, languid, and restless. Tongue coated except the red triangular tip. Loss of appetite, repugnance of food, great thirst and dry mouth.
Sulphur
Useful in fevers which assume a slow type and run on to typhoid. Intense, persistent long continued fever, skin dry hot and burning, temperature 39.5 to 40 °C, little or no remission day and night, patient being literally consumed with fever. Frequent flashes of heat, chill creeps from the sacrum up the back and shivering not followed by heat. One of the important symptoms of this remedy is the icy coldness of genitals (italic mine)  profuse perspiration at night. The child is at first sleepless and restless but soon becomes drowsy.
This remedy usually comes in after Aconite and often completes the cure.

Some cases treated
A 14 years old girl suddenly developed headache and fever at night. The girl complained of dull pain in the abdomen which was hard. The temperature was 38.8 c and headache was so severe that she had tied bandage tightly around her head. She also complained of bitter taste in the mouth, nausea and had had no stool that day. The tongue was coated light yellowish, the lips and mouth were dry and she had excessive thirst. The pulse was full and quick. Bryonia 30 every two hours was prescribed. Around midnight temperature rose to 39°C which came down after she passed stool. The temperature then continued declining and was normal in the morning. No headache was reported.
A homoeopathic remedy when well selected works quicker than any other medicine in any other system of medicine. Next day, she received a dose of Bryonia 200 to safeguard against rise in temperature or constipation which is often linked with fever in children.

An interesting case which baffled many a homoeopath, allopath and vaids but was ultimately cured by seemingly uncommon homoeopathic remedy for fever is given here to impress upon the reader and drs. that a homoeopath may fail, but homoeopathy never fails.
A, 12 years old child developed high fever which kept fluctuating during day and night. An allopath declared it as typhoid and administered large doses of chloromycetin. The fever which inspite of the strong antibiotic continued for 12 days and ultimately suppressed. By that time the child had consumed 20  capsules of the drug. After a few days, the child started getting low fever of 37.2 to 37.8 °c every day in the afternoon along with loose dark brown stools. The child felt weak and had sallow complexion which the father reported, was the result of the protracted treatment. All sorts of medicines in homoeopathy, allopathy and Ayurveda were tried but, the fever showed no signs of abatement. Finally case was referred to me. I carefully took the case and recorded the following symptoms of importance.,,
Fever started around 1PM and was its peak around, 4 pm,,
Night sweats, which made the child weak,
The child showed a considerable degree of warmth and desired cool drinks,,,
Eyes burning with occasional smarting,,,
Diarrhoea of dark brown colour 2-3 times daily worse evening,,,
Occasional spells of dizziness,,
Restlessness with weak pulse,,,
And family history of tuberculosis,,,
Considering the history of the case, I administered a dose of Chloromycetin 200 at bed time.
Next day, Ars iod 30 one dose every 3 hours was prescribed. At the end of 5 days, the child had no night sweats but the temperature continued as such. The frequency of diarrhoea was reduced to two in a day. The medicine was stopped for 3 days. No further change in the condition was noticed. I tried to elicit more symptoms, which revealed two important symptoms namely, child was thirstless and since the last few days had been asking for an additional pillow at night. The whole case was recapitulated which clearly pointed to Pulsatilla which also has fever aggravation around 4pm. Pulsatilla 200 one dose was prescribed which in two days relieved the child of the distressing symptoms of low fever. Pulsatilla 1m was latter administered to check further recurrence. The parents were advised to feed the child well, especially food rich in vitamins and proteins. And the child is going on well. No any further medicine.