Care Advice
What You Should Know About Normal Fatigue (feeling very tired) When Sick:
- Children who are sick are often less active.
- They become easily tired and need extra rest. They take extra naps and sleep longer hours for many days. As long as your child is alert when awake, extra sleeping is normal.
- This is different than the normal fatigue from exercise. Examples are a soccer game, manual labor or a long hike. This type of fatigue does not last long. It responds to a good night's sleep.
- Sick children also are less hungry for meals but like to drink fluids. As long as they stay hydrated, this is normal.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Trust Your Child to Choose the Right Activity Level:
- When they are awake, most sick kids want to watch TV. Some want to play with their toys. A few may want to play outside. That's also fine.
- If they are feeling badly, they may just want to rest. They may prefer to stay in bed or on the sofa for a day or two.
- As long as they are alert and able to walk normally, this is normal.
Avoid Trying to Force Bed Rest When Awake:
- Most children sleep extra hours when they are sick with any infection. Their body tells them how much sleep they need. Getting enough sleep helps them fight the infection. Let them choose the amount.
- Trying to force extra bed rest is not helpful for common childhood illness.
- It doesn't reduce symptoms.
- It doesn't help the body heal faster.
- It doesn't shorten how long the illness lasts.
- It doesn't prevent complications.
- Bed rest also can't be enforced in children who don't want it.
- An old myth was that sick children must stay in bed until their fever is gone. This is not true.
Return to School:
- Your child can go back to school after the fever is gone and the fatigue is mild.
- Your child should also feel well enough to join in normal activities.
What to Expect:
- Being very tired during the first 2 or 3 days of an infection is normal.
- Energy is often back to normal within 7 days.
- After a major sickness like mono, it may take 2 weeks.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Weakness (loss of muscle strength) occurs
- Fever lasts more than 3 days
- Extra sleepiness lasts more than 1 week
- Fatigue (very tired) lasts more than 2 weeks
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.