Moms always worry about someone in the family getting sick. And when a baby comes down with fever, everyone panics.
First-time mom Toni Gonzaga remembered being so stressed when her one-year old son Seve suffered from fever for the first time.
It happened at the beginning of Baby Seve's teething period.
"He was I think seven months, that was the time na tumutubo na yung ngipin niya.
"Pero praise God, sa two years, hindi pa talaga na-hospitalize siya or na-overnight siya in the hospital.
"Actually, that was my very first time to experience first-hand what it was like to not sleep at all ‘cause you're just looking and checking on the baby."
PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press interviewed Toni and her sister Alex Gonzaga at the press launch of Nature's Spring in Lola Cafe, Quezon City, last August 2.
AVOIDING CONVULSION
Toni said that she had a convulsion when she was just a baby and her mom, Pinty Gonzaga, gave her instructions on how to prevent it from happening to Seve.
"Hindi ko makakalimutan yun, bata pa lang ako, sinasabi na ng mommy sa akin, kapag mainit ang ulo ng bata, may fever, always make sure na pantay yung init ng buong katawan.
"Hindi puwedeng mainit yung ulo, malamig yung paa, malamig yung kamay. Kasi ibig sabihin nun, lahat ng lagnat niya nasa ulo.
"Pag ganun, magsi-seizure yung bata kasi hindi kakayanin nung brain niya yung init, yung fever na naipon lang sa ulo.
"Nangyari sa akin yan nung bata so nung nagkaroon na ako ng baby, lagi kong iniisip yun pag nagka-fever si Seve.
"I have to make sure that every two hours I check him, which happened na."
The Home Sweetie Home star didn't sleep all night to monitor Baby Seve's condition.
"Nung nagkalagnat si Seve, every two hours talaga tsine-check ko kasi from 38, pagka-check ko after two hours, 39.
"So ang gagawin kaagad namin, yung sponge bath. Hindi naman malamig na malamig, yung tap water.
"'Tapos makikita mo bumababa yung temperature. Every two hours yun, no fail.
"'Tapos after two days, nakita na naming lumalabas na yung ngipin niya.
"That was I think one time lang, after nun, yung mga sumunod na ngipin niya, hindi na siya nagkakalagnat."
These days, fever should not be taken lightly because it could either mean the baby has a serious infection or he/she is manifesting symptoms of an underlying illness.
Things that can be done immediately:
1. Monitor the baby's temperature. Take notes if you must.
2. Give him/ her paracetamol especially if the fever comes with headaches or body pains.
3. Help reduce the temperature with wet wash cloth.
4. If his/ her temperature is not going down despite all your efforts to reduce it, consult a doctor immediately.