DehydrationFluid depletion, Paani ki kamiDehydration is a shortage of water and salts in the body, from losing more than is taken in through diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, heat or simply not drinking. In children and older people it becomes dangerous quickly and is the main cause of death from ordinary diarrhoea.
Fever in children: what to do and when to go
A child's temperature matters far less than how the child looks and behaves. This quiz covers what actually counts as fever, the red flags that need same-day care, and the well-meant treatments that do harm.
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Question 1/8
1. What temperature counts as fever in a child?
Every question, with the answer explained
The full set, for revision or for reading straight through. The correct answer is marked, and the explanation says why.
1. What temperature counts as fever in a child?
- 37.0°C or above
- 38.0°C (100.4°F) or above
- 39.5°C or above
- Any warmth to touch
38.0°C (100.4°F) or above. 38°C or 100.4°F measured properly is fever. A forehead that feels warm is not a measurement.
2. Which matters most when judging a feverish child?
- The exact number on the thermometer
- How the child looks, drinks, and responds to you
- How long the fever lasted
- The time of day
How the child looks, drinks, and responds to you. A child alert, drinking and playing at 39°C is usually less worrying than a listless, floppy child at 38°C. Behaviour beats the number.
3. Which sign in a feverish child means emergency care now?
- Mild irritability
- A rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass, a stiff neck, or a fit
- Reduced appetite for one meal
- Sleeping more than usual at night
A rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass, a stiff neck, or a fit. A non-blanching rash, neck stiffness, seizure, difficulty breathing, blue lips, or a child who cannot be roused all need emergency assessment for meningitis or sepsis.
4. How should a fever under 3 months of age be treated?
- Home care and paracetamol
- Any fever in a baby under 3 months needs same-day medical assessment
- Wait 48 hours
- Cold bath
Any fever in a baby under 3 months needs same-day medical assessment. Infants under three months can be seriously unwell with few signs. A temperature of 38°C or more at that age is an urgent assessment, not a home-care problem.
5. Should you sponge a feverish child with cold water?
- Yes, it is the fastest way to cool them
- No — it causes shivering and distress; use tepid comfort measures and an antipyretic if needed
- Only with ice
- Only above 40°C
No — it causes shivering and distress; use tepid comfort measures and an antipyretic if needed. Cold water makes the child shiver, which raises core temperature and adds misery. Light clothing, fluids and paracetamol if uncomfortable is the approach.
6. What is the main risk of a child with fever and diarrhoea?
- Weight gain
- Dehydration
- High cholesterol
- Tooth decay
Dehydration. Children dehydrate quickly. Sunken eyes, no tears, dry mouth, few wet nappies and lethargy are the signs to watch.
7. What is the correct first-line fluid for a dehydrated child at home?
- Oral rehydration solution (ORS) made up exactly as directed
- Fizzy drinks
- Plain sugar water
- Strong tea
Oral rehydration solution (ORS) made up exactly as directed. ORS has the right balance of salt and sugar for absorption. Making it stronger than directed is harmful — follow the sachet exactly.
8. Is it safe to give aspirin to a child with fever?
- Yes
- No — it is linked to Reye's syndrome and is avoided in children
- Only under 5
- Only with food
No — it is linked to Reye's syndrome and is avoided in children. Aspirin is avoided in children and teenagers with viral illness because of Reye's syndrome, a rare but serious brain and liver condition. Paracetamol or ibuprofen are used instead.
Words used in this quiz
- AntipyreticFever medicine, Bukhar ki dawaAn antipyretic is a medicine that brings a fever down, paracetamol being the commonest. It treats the discomfort of a fever rather than whatever is causing it, and a fever coming down is not evidence that the illness has been cured.
- Oral rehydration solutionORS, Oral rehydration saltsOral rehydration solution is a precise mixture of salts and glucose in water that replaces what the body loses in diarrhoea and vomiting. The glucose is what allows the salt and water to be absorbed, which is why plain water or a soft drink does not do the same job.
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