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Calf wrap instructions, implementation and mode of action
In advance, however, the cause of the fever should first be clarified by a doctor and an assessment of the doctor should be obtained, because in some cases the cold conditions may even become dangerous and lead to a circulatory collapse. Especially with babies under six months is therefore to renounce this natural healing process. Instead, if needed, parents can try to relieve their child's discomfort with alternatives such as the so-called "pulse wrap.".
contents
- Cold Envelopes: mode of action and applications
- Calf wrap in fever
- Performing calf wrapping
- Waist wrap for a long time?
- Calf envelopes in children
- Instructions for calf wrap in children
- Calf wrap at the baby
- Lower fever in baby with pulse wrap
Cold Envelopes: mode of action and applications
The so-called calf wrap is a well-tried home remedy for cooling the body, which is mainly used to reduce high fever. The principle resembles the process of sweating, because the winding causes an evaporation cold, by which the increased temperature of the body is compensated. Calf rolls are one of the applications of hydrotherapy according to Sebastian Kneipp, who successfully used wraps and compresses as early as the 19th century as part of his natural history medicine.
Calf rolls are known primarily as a means of reducing fever, but they can also provide relief for other ailments. (Image: photophonie / fotolia.com) Depending on how long the application takes, can be achieved with a winding very different effects. If it stays on the calves for up to 10 minutes, the body is deprived of heat (fe fever), while prolonged use of 20 minutes or more will be anti-inflammatory, sleep-inducing, hypotensive and tissue-lifting, strengthening the veins and calming the autonomic nervous system can lead.
Calf wrap in fever
Calf rolls are a tried-and-tested home remedy for fever. But beware, because they are not suitable for every patient and can even lead to serious health problems such as circulatory weakness or even a circulatory collapse in an emergency.
Accordingly, before the self-treatment should always be first turned to a doctor or pediatrician to clarify the cause of the increased temperature and possible necessary treatment steps. If the circumstances are described concretely, the doctor can clearly define whether calf rolls are indicated or not.
These are usually considered at a temperature of more than 39 ° C, especially if the patient at the same time complains of inner restlessness and sleep disturbances. In this case, the coils help to reduce the fever by half to one degree Celsius, and also relieve the head area, relieving other symptoms such as headache, drowsiness or dizziness, and promoting inner peace and relaxation.
Especially with fever, however, it must generally be considered that it represents a natural and important defense reaction of the body. Accordingly, it is advisable to use antipyretic measures only if the elevated temperature greatly weakens or endangers the patient or greatly impaired general perception.
Danger: There are cases in which calf rolls can NOT be used in principle, as otherwise a worsening of the condition or even more serious health consequences can occur. This applies when the patient has cold hands and feet despite high temperatures, freezes or shivering, which often occurs at the beginning of a disease, when the fever is still rising. Similarly, should be dispensed with an acute urinary tract infection such as cystitis or arterial circulatory disorders on calf.
If the patient freezes or has chills despite the elevated temperature, calf wrap may not be used. (Image: contrastwerkstatt / fotolia.com) Performing calf wrapping
For the calf wrap use, two clean cloths of cotton, linen or wool (e.g., dishtowels or towels, gauze diapers) are needed because synthetic fabrics are made of thin fibers that transmit little or no moisture and air. In addition, a thick wool or bath towel to absorb excess liquid and a bowl of tap-cold (about 16 to 20 degrees Celsius) or lukewarm water (in children).
Recommended is a bed protection (Molton), which, however, always only underlayed and not be wound around the calves, otherwise there is a risk of heat build-up. Likewise, the wet wraps must not be covered with thick sheets or a blanket, as there is also the risk that the resulting heat can no longer be discharged. The patient should lie in the application or bring the legs in a horizontal position and then stay in bed for about half an hour and rest, so as not to overload the circuit.
Wadenwickel - how it works:
Important: Always wrap tightly, as a too loose bandage will usually be ineffective and may also be very uncomfortable for the patient |
Waist wrap for a long time?
The finished wraps remain on the lower legs until they have become body-warm (in adults about 20 to 30 minutes). Meanwhile, neither get up nor walk around.
After the time has elapsed, they are removed and the legs carefully dried. Then, the towels can be prepared again and in adults, if necessary, two to three times at intervals of 10-15 minutes to be reissued.
It is important to observe yourself or the patient well during the application and to react quickly when freezing or shivering sets in or the body cools down. Then first check whether the reels may not sit tight enough and allow air to pass through. If this is not the case, they should be promptly removed and heat applied (e.g., hot water bottle, warm foot bath) instead.
In children, lukewarm water is always used for calf envelopes. (Image: photophonie / fotolia.com) Calf envelopes in children
Calf rolls are especially in children as a proven natural remedy to reduce fever, as they are much more likely than adults feverish and often develop a very high body temperature. The fever itself is not a disease, but rather a signal that the body activates its immune system to better fight pathogens can. So it is an important and natural reaction that should not be immediately suppressed by antipyretic drugs or procedures.
Fever is usually spoken in children from a temperature of 38.5 ° C, high fever from a medical point of view, starting at 39 ° C. If this is the case, especially bed rest, special attention by the parents, frequent drinking (water, tea) and a regular control of the temperature are recommended.
If the child is severely impaired, weakened or severed, a pediatrician should definitely be consulted. If necessary, this may prescribe antipyretic agents in the form of suppositories or juice (paracetamol, ibuprofen). The same applies in principle if the child is younger than one year and in case of parallel symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting or abdominal pain.
If the fever persists for more than one day at or above the age of 2 for more than 3 days, if the child does not drink, cramps or the medication does not improve, parents should not hesitate, but seek immediate attention from a pediatrician or the pediatric emergency service.
In addition to the antipyretic means can be used in many cases at high temperatures supplement calf wrap. However, you should always talk to a doctor in advance to rule out serious causes of the fever and thus health risks.
In general, hydrotherapeutic applications of any kind must never be carried out against the will of the child. If the little patient shows clear rejection or anxiety in advance, it often helps to convince the patient through a patient and loving explanation of the necessity. If the fear persists, the consent of the child should not be "forced", but instead talked to the doctor about alternatives. In addition, care should be taken in any application to ensure that it is carried out in a relaxed and calm atmosphere in which the child feels safe.
Parents should create a relaxed and familiar atmosphere and give their sick child a secure feeling. (Image: Tomsickova / fotolia.com) Instructions for calf wrap in children
It is important that children are not allowed to use cold, but lukewarm water for calf compresses (about 1 to 5 degrees Celsius below body temperature) so as not to overload the circulation. The application is carried out as in adults, but the cloths heat up very quickly in high fever, so that they can usually be removed after about 10 minutes.
If the calves have become warm again, the application may be repeated up to three times. To check then fever should be measured regularly, after the first round, but at the earliest after 30 minutes.
Certain additives can increase the soothing effect of the calf wrap. Examples are a shot of fruit vinegar as an addition or the juice of half a lemon, which is expressed directly on the bottom of the water bowl and thereby releases essential oils directly into the water.
Make sure that the fever does not fall more than 1 degree, because a too rapid decrease in temperature can quickly overload the circuit. Accordingly, it is advisable to give the child rest in between, and to provide for a relaxed atmosphere in the breaks through increased attention and attention.
In order for the calf rolls to have the greatest possible effect, they should also be used only in a lying position in children, and it is also important that the little patients remain in bed and rest for at least half an hour after application.
Danger: The child should never be left alone during the assignments, so that parents can react as quickly as possible when sudden freezing, chills or other complaints occur. In this case, the wraps must be removed immediately, of course, the same applies if the child feels it as unpleasant.
It is very important in this context that the lukewarm wraps may only be applied to actually warm skin. If the child instead has cold legs or feet, an application is out of the question. The wraps should never stay on the legs for more than ten minutes in infants, otherwise there is an increased risk of chilling.
Calf wrap at the baby
Fever occurs relatively often in babies, but this does not necessarily mean a serious illness. Nevertheless, babies under three months of age should already be examined by a pediatrician at a temperature of 38 ° C as a precautionary measure. The same applies to older children at more than 39 ° C.
Babies under three months of age should be examined by the pediatrician at 38 ° C. (Image: Alex Ishchenko / fotolia.com) If the cause of the fever is medically clarified and the doctor does not speak against supporting calf wrapping, it can be used in some cases from about six months, but usually more than one year, depending on the readiness of the child (see application)..
Important: In children under half a year, the home remedy is not suitable, because there is an increased risk of a circulatory collapse.
One alternative in this case is the development of pulse windings on the wrists and ankles, which have a gentle, fever-reducing effect and can therefore be used on even the youngest.
Lower fever in baby with pulse wrap
For the pulse wrap, small cotton towels (such as a pocket or mint cloth) are first folded to a width of about 2 cm, half dipped in lukewarm water, wrung out and then placed on the baby's joints. It should start with the wet half and then the winding with a cut socks, hose bandage, plaster or similar. be fixed.
If the child tolerates the pulse wrap well, they can be repeated up to three times in a row, for 10 minutes each. Until the next round, however, a break of at least three hours should be kept, in which regularly checks the temperature and the baby is still closely monitored. (nr, updated on 2.10.2017)