We decided to give her home therapy:
- Raise the room temperature and lower AC's fan speed (or turn off AC if possible). Make sure it's not too hot and has good air circulation.
- Don't bundle the baby too much. Keep the room temperature warm but let the baby wear light cotton clothes that absorb her sweat and covered with light blanket. Change her clothes every time she perspires.
- Let her sleep as much as she wants and avoid strenuous activities. If the baby got difficulty in breathing when sleeping horizontally, raise her head position. Even better: let the baby sleep on mom's chest (mom in semi-sit position), skin-to-skin, with her back covered with warm blanket.
- Rub her body with warm oil like baby balsam, minyak telon, cajuput/eucalyptus oil, menthol, etc. I think cajuput oil is much warmer than Transpulmin baby balsam. I haven't tried Vicks baby, tho. Adjust with the baby's skin tolerance. Good tip: rub it on her feet, too, then cover with socks. It also works for adults.
- For congested nose, drop NaCl (like Breathy) into her nose; or as our pediatrician suggested, use spray nasal decongestant like Sterimar. Wait a moment until it works then suck the mucus using nasal aspirator. FYI, Breathy can also help to get baby's nose dirt out. Some babies found comfort when decongestant oil (Purekids, etc) is dropped on her clothes and her pillow.
Sucking the snot directly by mouth is not suggested because it can spread the virus. The types of nasal aspirator can be found here. I prefer to use TUBE type nasal aspirator (rather than the bulb type) so I can suck by mouth in hygienic way and adjust the suction level. I use Pigeon nasal aspirator (2015 price: Rp 65,000).
Pigeon and Nose Frida nasal aspirator with tube - Warm steam can help getting the phlegm out. Traditional way is to drop oil (minyak telon, cajuput, eucalyptus etc) to hot water and let the baby breath in the vapor. This way is a bit tricky though. We have to hold the baby and put water container very carefully. Best way is using vaporizer.
- Give her a warm bath or two daily. It also can help during fever. Drop a little of cajuput oil on her bath water (of course after you wash her head and face).
- Measure her temperature once or twice daily and learn the pattern. Sometimes baby's body temperature only rises at night, or it rises for several days and cool down for some time, but it rises again. The pattern will help doctors to determine the cause of fever.
Tips for Taking Temperatures
As any parent knows, taking a squirming child's temperature can be a challenge. But it's one of the most important tools doctors have to determine if a child has an illness or infection. The best method will depend on a child's age and temperament.
For kids younger than 3 months, you'll get the most reliable reading by using a digital thermometer to take a rectal temperature. Electronic ear thermometers aren't recommended for infants younger than 3 months because their ear canals are usually too small.
For kids between 3 months to 4 years old, you can use a digital thermometer to take a rectal temperature or an electronic ear thermometer to take the temperature inside the ear canal. You could also use a digital thermometer to take an axillary temperature, although this is a less accurate method.
For kids 4 years or older, you can usually use a digital thermometer to take an oral temperature if your child will cooperate. However, kids who have frequent coughs or are breathing through their mouths because of stuffy noses might not be able to keep their mouths closed long enough for an accurate oral reading. In these cases, you can use the tympanic method (with an electronic ear thermometer) or axillary method (with a digital thermometer).
- If she's feverish, apply warm damp towel or warm hotpack to her armpit and groin (not on forehead) for 5-10 minutes then dry it gently. Never use cold water or alcohol!
- Go to the doctor if the fever has reached 38C (for baby 3 months or younger) or 39C (for older baby), or when you feel have to. Search doctors with RUM (Rational Use of Medicines), who give antibiotics only when needed and provide parents with good consultation on home remedy. Petunjuk kapan harus membawa bayi ke dokter bisa dilihat di sini (dalam bahasa Indonesia).
From kidshealth.org:
Call the doctor if an older child has a fever of less than 102.2°F (39°C) but also:
- refuses fluids or seems too ill to drink adequately
- has persistent diarrhea or repeated vomiting
- has any signs of dehydration (peeing less than usual, not having tears when crying, less alert and less active than usual)
- has a specific complaint (like a sore throat or earache)
- still has a fever after 24 hours (in kids younger than 2 years) or 72 hours (in kids 2 years or older)
- has recurrent fevers, even if they only last a few hours each night
- has a chronic medical problem such as heart disease, cancer, lupus, or sickle cell anemia
- has a rash
- has pain while urinating
Seek emergency care if your child shows any of these signs:
- inconsolable crying
- extreme irritability
- lethargy and difficulty waking
- rash or purple spots that look like bruises on the skin (that were not there before the child got sick)
- blue lips, tongue, or nails
- infant's soft spot on the head seems to be bulging outward or sunken inwards
- stiff neck
- severe headache
- limpness or refusal to move
- difficulty breathing that doesn't get better when the nose is cleared
- leaning forward and drooling
- seizure
- abdominal pain
- Give a lot of fluid to the baby. If the baby has already had solid and refused water, offer her juice or broth (with no sugar and make sure the baby is not allergic to the ingredients). Let her have healthy food that's easy to chew. When I went to work, I asked my mom to give my daughter a lot of my expressed breastmilk even when she didn't ask for it. At home, I offered my baby to breastfeed anytime, as long as she wanted to. I put some cajuput on my upper breast and clothes to help her congested nose.
- Some parents use essential oil for home remedy. I haven't tried one.
- Give her medicine (acetaminophen or ibuprofen is considered safe for babies but ibuprofen isn't recommended for babies under 6 months or for those who are dehydrated or have consistent vomiting) only after consulting a doctor because the baby's weight determine the right dose.
- Some kids have seizure *amit-amit* during fever. Here is some information about seizure and how to handle it.
FEVER FACTS from kidshealth.org
Fever happens when the body's internal "thermostat" raises the body temperature above its normal level. This thermostat is found in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus knows what temperature your body should be (usually around 98.6°F/37°C) and will send messages to your body to keep it that way.
Most people's body temperatures even change a little bit during the course of the day: It's usually a little lower in the morning and a little higher in the evening and can vary as kids run around, play, and exercise.
Sometimes, though, the hypothalamus will "reset" the body to a higher temperature in response to an infection, illness, or some other cause. Researchers believe turning up the heat is the body's way of fighting the germs that cause infections and making the body a less comfortable place for them.
It's important to remember that fever by itself is not an illness — it's usually a symptom of an underlying problem. Fevers have a few potential causes:
Infection: Most fevers are caused by infection or other illness. A fever helps the body fight infections by stimulating natural defense mechanisms.
Overdressing: Infants, especially newborns, may get fevers if they're overbundled or in a hot environment because they don't regulate their body temperature as well as older kids. However, because fevers in newborns can indicate a serious infection, even infants who are overdressed must be checked by a doctor if they have a fever.
Immunizations: Babies and kids sometimes get a low-grade fever after getting vaccinated.
Although teething may cause a slight rise in body temperature, it's probably not the cause if a child's temperature is higher than 100°F (37.8°C).
Kids whose temperatures are lower than 102°F (38.9°C) often don't need medication unless they're uncomfortable. There's one important exception to this rule: If you have an infant 3 months or younger with a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, call your doctor or go to the emergency department immediately. Even a slight fever can be a sign of a potentially serious infection in very young infants. If your child is between 3 months and 3 years old and has a fever of 102.2°F (39°C) or higher, call your doctor to see if he or she needs to see your child. For older kids, take behavior and activity level into account. Watching how your child behaves will give you a pretty good idea of whether a minor illness is the cause or if your child should be seen by a doctor.
The illness is probably not serious if your child:
A simple cold or other viral infection can sometimes cause a rather high fever (in the 102°-104°F/38.9°-40°C range), but this doesn't usually indicate a serious problem. And serious infections might cause no fever or even an abnormally low body temperature, especially in infants.
- is still interested in playing
- is eating and drinking well
- is alert and smiling at you
- has a normal skin color
- looks well when his or her temperature comes down
We didn't take the baby to pediatrician and she got cured in 10 days (what a terrifying week to us), but we consult one on her next shot. I searched for RUM doctor and we went to dr. Johannes Ridwan at Bethsaida Hospital. The doctor agreed with giving of Kehongsan (Qing Feng San),
a Chinese herbal medicine. He shook his head hearing me giving
traditional steam remedy *heehee* and suggest us to use Kaz vaporizer. He will give medicines and/or nebulizer therapy only when needed.
What is the difference between nebulizer, vaporizer, and humidifier?
- Humidifier convert liquid into mist but only to humidify the air (hence, the name). It can help asthma and dry skin.
- Vaporizer also convert liquid (and can be added with medications) into mist and disperse the mist throughout a room and thus are not a reliable form of medication delivery, though the mist itself can still have health benefits.
The usage of 'vaporizer' and 'humidifier' term is ambiguous when searching for seller, moreover aromatherapy or diffuser features in humidifiers. Some people use term humidifer when the appliance produce cool mist and vaporizer for hot vapor.
- Nebulizer are designed to deliver prescription respiratory medications by dissolving the medicine into a light mist which can be breathed in through a mouthpiece.
Breathing in mist helps open up one’s airways and can be useful in
treating asthma, allergies and a variety of respiratory diseases. It was initially used for asthma treatment, especially for younger kids who haven't been able to use asthma inhaler. Using home nebulizer is not forbidden but MAKE SURE YOU CONSULT THE DOCTOR ABOUT THE PRESCRIPTION AND ITS DOSAGE!
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