Explore food, recipes, measuring and so much more with our many manipulation, role play, and early science activities. This theme will help you create a special restaurant within your daycare!

Germaction

Germaction Archives

Nathalie Thibault's bachelor's degree in Microbiology and master's degree in Immunology make her a germ and immune system specialist. Since the birth of her two daughters, she has been particularly interested in the infections which affect children who attend daycare. She is a teacher, speaker, and author. The specialized documents and courses she conceives help those involved in early childhood outsmart germs. She writes for a magazine called La Culbute and the mamanpourlavie.com website.

Hiding fever in the morning: is it good for the child?

It is 7:45 a.m. Your child has a 39°C fever. You give him a dose of Advil or Tylenol right before leaving for the daycare, hoping that it will “pass” and you will avoid your child’s exclusion.

Epidemic on a parental level

I used the words “hiding fever” because there is a very silent epidemic which exists. Several parents give their child medicine in the morning and make a point of not telling their child’s caregivers. In doing so, they are hiding a very important element which daycares consider when excluding a child: fever. For this reason, we often see fever appear in daycares around 12:00 noon, the time when Tylenol™ loses its effectiveness or 2:00 p.m., the time when Advil™ wears off! When children can speak, they voluntarily inform their friends, “Mommy gave me candy this morning.” or “Mommy gave me medicine this morning.”

When should medicine such as Advil™or Tylenol™ be given?

To relieve pain or control fever…not to avoid trouble or reduce your feelings of guilt. Medicine must not be given for preventive purposes or “just in case”.

Fever is an internal indicator

Fever is a mechanism used by the immune system to counter the multiplication of a germ in the body. Fever=combat. Since children still have an immature immune system, their bodies often use the elevation of body temperature to defend themselves. It is true that most children who experience fever do not have any further consequences. However, did you know that high fever is also an important symptom present in children with serious infections such as meningitis, septicemia, pneumonia, etc.?

The level of the fever is important

A light fever is cause for less concern than high fever. Furthermore, fever which can be controlled is usually less dangerous than a fever which refuses to go down. How can your child’s caregivers evaluate the situation if you are trying to hide it from them? How will you know if your child’s fever is properly controlled?

When a child has a fever, he must be watched closely. This does not mean that he must automatically be excluded from daycare but the person who cares for him must be well-informed to intervene properly. All daycares have an exclusion policy. You must be aware of this policy.

After 4, 6, or 8 hours, the fever goes back up!

What will happen once the medicine you gave your child wears off? Possibly nothing and I sincerely hope this will be the case. Perhaps, the fever will be higher than before and your child will feel terrible when this happens. In rare cases, the child may have convulsions! When a child experiences convulsions, he must be seen by a doctor, will this situation be better?

Possible overdose

Have you considered the possibility of an overdose when you give your child medicine in the morning and intentionally or unintentionally omit to tell his caregiver? If the fever does not go down or if the caregiver is unable to reach you, to do her job well the caregiver will give your child a dose of medicine. Overdoses are possible. Giving children too much medicine can have serious consequences on their liver.

Knowing the child’s state of health to protect him

I strongly recommend that you reveal the medicine you gave your child in the morning. Inform caregivers of the time and reason you administered it. It is not your “job” which is on the line here. It is the health of your child. To react accurately and rapidly, caregivers must know the facts. Your child may still have a nice day. No one can predict the future. However, if the opposite occurs, everyone concerned must be aware of the situation.

For an efficient combat against germs, we must work together, not try to hide information. Our #1 goal: the health and well-being of your child!

Nathalie Thibault

Products and services offered by Germaction: Distance learning courses for caregivers, courses in classroom settings, conferences, animated workshops, ISO-BOBOS program, etc.

No element of this text may be copied, reproduced, distributed, published, translated, downloaded, posted, or transmitted, in any way, without prior written authorization from Educatall and the copyright holder. Elements may be posted and/or downloaded solely for personal and non-commercial use provided no modifications are made and all notices of intellectual property are fully shown (name of the author, title of the article, name of the website, date the text is used and the date of the part in question).

*Share and use*

Among the 150 best websites on the Toile du Québec in 2006

Considered Innovation of the year by the Salon des Générations

Awarded the Canadian Prime Minister’s prize for Excellence in early childhood education 2002-2003

Among the best websites to succeed in school according to the annual guide 2007-2008