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Why is a child with a high fever given a sponge bath with water mixed with rubbing alcohol?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
To help cool the child down. The evaporating alcohol would help with the cooling. To evaporate the alcohol needs some energy and it would take heat from the child's skin thus helping with the cooling. The water would remove heat from the skin by evaporation and conduction.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
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When is a child's temperature too high?
A high fever in a child is usually around 101-103 after that they should deffinetly see a doctor. -- A body temperature of 38.5 degree Celsius and above is considered a high fever.
What is zinc fever?
Type your answer here... zinc fever
What poison is produced by high fever?
pyrotoxin
What is an antipyrectic?
An antipyretic is a type of medication that will prevent or reduce fever by lowering body temperature from a raised state.
What is paul-bunnell reaction?
positive for heterophilic antibiodies. Glandular fever
Why do you use alcohol to sponge a person with high fever?
alcohol is a volatile liquid since its boiling point is relatively low compared to that of water etc. thus it evaporates faster and at lower temperatures. when it evaporates, it takes away the heat from the skin surface thus bringing down the temperature of the skin. since temperature is the measure of heat energy.
Can rubbing your body down with rubbing alcohol lead to pneumonia?
This is no longer an accepted treatment for fever or infectious disease as it used to be. Years ago this was an accepted way to lower a temp of an infant or child. Please note: this is no longer accepted. Alcohol fumes could overcome or kill a child. To reduce fever in a child (dangerous high fever) use only a tepid bath (water a couple degrees below body temperature which would feel cool to your elbow) or get directions from the pediatrician. ANY time an infant has fever, the doctor should always be contacted.But being cold or having rubbing alcohol on your skin that makes you feel cold can not cause pneumonia. See the related question below about being cold making you sick.
Will rubbing alcohol make a headache go away?
It will help with the pain of your headache yes. As well as lower the fever. Don't over do it and don't under do it.
Why do people use rubbing alcohol to break a fever?
You should not apply isopropyl alcohol directly to the forehead or anywhere else on the body. Isopropyl alcohol, unlike ethyl (drinkable) alcohol, is toxic to the body. In small amounts applied to wounds, it is not harmful, but since isopropyl alcohol is easily absorbed by the skin, it can rise to toxic levels very quickly. However, since rubbing alcohol is offered as either isopropyl or ethyl alcohol, if you have a purely ethyl alcohol and water- based rubbing alcohol, it can be used for this purpose. However, it should first be diluted with more water since it is of a very high concentration that is still harmful to the body. Use about 1 part ethyl rubbing alcohol, 2-4 parts water. Obviously, do not use this on young children because it has the same effect as if you gave them alcohol to drink. Sure won't hurt, it also won't help. It might feel cooling but it won't significantly affect your internal body temp. You need to rid your body of infection or take a medication that will lower your temp such as aspirin, acetominphen, or ibuprofen. However, don't take aspirin if you are under 15 years old because of the risk of Rye's Syndrome. Studies have shown that using isoprpyl alcohol and water baths for fever can be dangerous. The fumes from the mixture can be harmful to both the person being bathed and the person giving the bath as they can be absorbed through the lungs. The isopropyl alcohol can also be absorbed by the skin when applied to the skin. The amount of alcohol that would be used in a bath could lead to alcohol toxicity. Medical studies have shown that inhalation or absorption from the skin could lead to toxic levels of isopropyl alcohol.
What to do when your 2 year old fever is 101.8?
If a 10 month old has a fever of 105 call your pediatrician and ask what to do. If you absolutely can not get any help, take a washcloth and rubbing alcohol and wipe that on the baby. It might bring down its temperature. Still, it is better to get medical help than someone using an ancient technique.
How does a sponge bath help a patient suffering from high fever?
As when we have fever our body temperature is high, a sponge bath with cold water helps bring the temperature down.
Why does rubbing alcohol reduce fevers?
Rubbing alcohol is isopropyl alcohol, and is poisonous if ingested, (the alcohol you can drink safely is ethanol, a different chemical compound). Rubbing alcohol cools the skin by convection, as the alcohol evaporates it carries the heat away from the body with it, just like perspiration, only faster. Cooling of the body with alcohol will help in reducing a fever, but should only be done when the body temperature is dangerously high, 104-105 or greater. It is best to supplement this cooling with effective medicines like ibuprofen, aspirin (not for young children), or acetaminophen, these take longer to work, but their effect lasts longer. Severely elevated body temperature can cause seizures and/or brain damage in children, if they have a fever that is greater than 104 degrees and does not respond to treatment should be addressed by a physician.
Is rubbing alcohol safe for children?
Yes. It works good and it makes you feel better. You could also use Vick's and put it on their chest. If their nose are plugged up put it around their nose (Vick's).I know because that is what I always do when I'm sick, and I am still a kid, my grandma taught me how to take care of myself, she is an excellent nurse.So it will work good for your kid.They also used to use leaches and give insulin to mental patients to sedate them. Just because it was done in the "old days" doesn't mean it is still applicable or even "better".Rubbing Alcohol is NOT recommended on children. It is absorbed through the skin and puts the child at risk for Isopropanol poisoning (http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic19.htm). Rubbing alcohol does nothing useful.Looking on here for answers on how to take care of your child is like soliciting a prostitute in a run-down area of your closest major city: you'll get a lot of interest, but none of it is probably any good. Consult a medically-trained professional!!!!!!!AN APPROPRIATE ANSWER:Years ago. putting alcohol in a tepid bath, or giving a child an alcohol rub down was a way to reduce a very high fever. As the alcohol evaporated, the skin was cooled and fever reduced. HOWEVER, nowadays it is not recommended to use alcohol on a child's skin in this way, as the fumes can be harmful also and even fatal in extreme cases.
Can you use rubbing alcohol to break a fever?
Yes you can and hospitals will use this method on occasion. Also if a child has a high fever you can cool them down in a bath tub with cold water, but please keep in contact with your family doctor before doing so. NO DONOT LISTEN TO THIS ADVICE ABOVE, A CHILD WITH A HIGH FEVER WILL GO INTO SHOCK IF YOU PLACE THEM IN COLD WATER. GIVE THEM 2 TEASPOONS OF CHILDRENS MOTRIN EVERY TWO HOURS, THEN SWITCH TO TYLENOL,ALTERNATE THIS METHOD MAKE SURE TO KEEP THEM HYDRATED WITH PEDIALYTE OR WATER IF THEY CAN KEEP IT DOWN. Alcohol can be applied to a child or adult to break a fever but DO NOT use large quantities of it on the body.It should be preferably applied on the bottom of the feet or other small areas.By using significant amounts on large parts of the body has the potential to cause cerebral depression if absorb which can lead to neurological deficit or even death.Also, placing a child or even an adult with a high fever can cause them to go into shock or even cause seizures.
Why do you have a fever after drinking alcohol?
Some people develop a fever after drinking alcohol due to alcohol withdrawal. Withdrawal happens when one is drinking regularly, and suddenly stops.
Why do you sponge babies with a fever using cool water?
to cool them off or they die fast
How do you treat a fever from alcohol withdrawal?
asperine
