Your baby is fussy or cries and can't be soothed.It is important to recognize that not all fevers are the same. Your child is age 2 or older and has a fever of 100.4☏ (38☌) that lasts for more than 3 days. Your child is younger than 2 years of age and has a fever of 100.4☏ (38☌) that lasts for more than 1 day. Your child is of any age and has repeated fevers above 104☏ (40☌). Fever in a young baby can be a sign of a dangerous infection. Your child is 3 months old or younger and has a fever of 100.4☏ (38☌) or higher. Unless advised otherwise by your child’s healthcare provider, call the provider right away if: When should I call my child's healthcare provider? Never leave your child unattended in the bathtub. Do not allow your child to shiver from cold water. Excess clothing will trap body heat and cause the temperature to rise.Įncourage your child to drink plenty of fluids, such as water, juices, or popsicles. It has been linked to a serious, potentially fatal disease, called Reye syndrome.ĭress your child lightly. Give your child an antifever medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. What can I do to decrease my child's fever? There is no evidence that treating the fever will reduce the risk of having a febrile seizure. A febrile seizure does not mean your child has epilepsy. But usually children outgrow the febrile seizures. If your child does have a febrile seizure, there is a chance that the seizure may occur again. It simply will relieve discomfort linked to the fever. Children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years can develop seizures from fever (called febrile seizures). In children, a fever that is making them uncomfortable should be treated. Treating your child's fever will not help the body get rid of the infection any faster. If you are unsure, always check with your child's healthcare provider for a diagnosis. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, if your child is younger than 3 months of age and has a temperature of 100.4☏ (38☌) or higher, you should call your child's healthcare provider right away. The symptoms of a fever may look like other health conditions. Remember that even if your child feels like he or she is "burning up," the measured temperature may not be that high. Your child may seem fussier, less hungry, and thirstier. Your child may not be as active or talkative as usual. Along with a body temperature greater than 100.4☏ (38☌), symptoms may include:
What are the symptoms that my child may have a fever?Ĭhildren with fevers may become more uncomfortable as the temperature rises. It is a symptom, or sign, that your body is fighting an illness or infection. Fever stimulates the body's defenses, sending white blood cells and other "fighter" cells to fight and destroy the cause of the infection. They stimulate the brain to raise the temperature.įever is not an illness. When this membrane is disrupted or broken, the contents that escape can be toxic to the body. Many bacteria are enclosed in an overcoat-like membrane. These antibodies will recognize the infection next time it tries to invade. The body is busy trying to make natural antibodies, which fight infection.
These cells actually "eat-up" the invading organism. These are cells that go to combat when intruders are present in the body. The temperature increases for a number of reasons:Ĭhemicals, called cytokines and mediators, are made in the body in response to an invasion from a microorganism, malignancy, or other intruder. But it has temporarily reset its thermostat at a higher temperature. When your child has a fever, the body works the same way to control the temperature. Getting rid of, or holding on to, water in the body
Moving blood away from, or closer to, the surface of the skin Increasing or decreasing sweat production The body responds to changes in temperature by: The organs involved in helping with temperature regulation include the brain, skin, muscle, and blood vessels. The body has several ways to maintain normal body temperature. A fever is defined by most healthcare providers as a temperature of 100.4☏ (38☌) and higher when taken rectally.