Fever: what to do
Fever is a sign the body is fighting infection.
- Keep the child comfortable; don't overdress or overheat them.
- Offer fluids often and keep feeding or breastfeeding.
- Use fever medicine only as a health worker advises.
- In a baby under 3 months, any fever needs care now.
Diarrhoea and dehydration
The main danger of diarrhoea is losing too much fluid.
- The biggest risk is dehydration — losing water and salts.
- Give extra fluids and ORS (oral rehydration solution) often.
- Keep feeding and breastfeeding through the illness.
- Zinc for 10–14 days shortens diarrhoea (as advised).
Signs of dehydration
Learn the signs — dehydration can become dangerous fast.
| Sign | What it means |
|---|
| Thirsty, drinking eagerly, restless | Some dehydration — give ORS now |
| Dry mouth, few or no tears when crying | Some dehydration — ORS & watch |
| Sunken eyes, little or no urine | Worsening — seek care |
| Very sleepy, floppy, or unable to drink | Severe — emergency, go now |
| Skin pinch goes back slowly | Dehydration — seek care |
Severe dehydration is an emergency. Give ORS on the way and get care immediately.
Home care terms
- ORS: Oral rehydration solution — replaces water and salts lost in diarrhoea.
- Dehydration: Losing too much fluid; the main danger in diarrhoea and vomiting.
- Fever: A raised temperature — a sign the body is fighting infection.
- Zinc: A supplement that shortens diarrhoea and helps prevent the next bout.
- Fast breathing: A key sign of possible pneumonia in a coughing child.
- Home care: Keeping a sick child fed, hydrated, comfortable, and watched.
Myth or reality?
Tap each statement about caring for a sick child.
- Stop feeding a child with diarrhoea (Myth) — Keep feeding and breastfeeding — food and fluids speed recovery and prevent malnutrition.
- ORS is the key treatment for diarrhoea (Reality) — ORS replaces lost water and salts and prevents dangerous dehydration.
- Any fever in a baby under 3 months is an emergency (Reality) — In very young babies, any fever needs care right away.
- Antibiotics cure the common cold (Myth) — Colds are viral; antibiotics don't help and should only be used when a health worker prescribes them.
For children 1–5 years, more than about 40 breaths per minute (at rest) is a warning sign of possible pneumonia, especially with cough and fever. Younger babies breathe faster — for 2–12 months, over ~50 is the cutoff. Seek care.
Good home care or seek care?
Tap each, then whether it's home care or a reason to seek care.
- Give ORS and keep feeding (Good home care)
- Offer fluids and rest for a mild cold (Good home care)
- Comfort and light clothing for mild fever (Good home care)
- Fast breathing or chest pulling in (Seek care now)
- Signs of severe dehydration (Seek care now)
- Any fever in a baby under 3 months (Seek care now)
Caring for a sick child at home
Comfort, fluids, food, and close watching.
- Keep offering fluids, ORS, and regular feeds.
- Rest, comfort, and a cool, airy room.
- Give only medicines advised, at the right dose.
- Watch closely and recheck for danger signs.
When illness is serious — seek care
These signs mean get care for your child now.
- Fast or difficult breathing, or chest pulling in.
- Not able to drink or feed, or vomiting everything.
- Signs of dehydration, or blood in the stool.
- Convulsions, very sleepy or unresponsive, or a fever in a baby under 3 months.
Recap & what's next
- Fever: comfort, fluids, keep feeding; under 3 months = urgent.
- Diarrhoea: ORS, keep feeding, zinc as advised.
- Learn dehydration and fast-breathing warning signs.
- Next: keeping your child safe and well.
