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Nov 14, 2024 · The most common causes of fever include the following. Viral infections: These are the leading cause of fevers in children and include illnesses like the common cold, flu or other respiratory infections. Viral fevers usually resolve on their own without specific treatments. Bacterial infections: Infections like strep throat, ear infections ...
- Overview
- What a fever means
- High fevers in newborns to 3-month-olds
- High fevers in 3-month-olds to 3-year-olds
- High fevers in children older than 3 years
- In a nutshell: When to go to urgent care
- When you don’t need to worry and why
- The bottom line
Your little one feels warm to the touch. After taking their temperature, you realize it’s 103°F — a fever!
Even if this scenario sounds super familiar, it can still catch you off guard. Before you race to the doctor, though, take a deep breath.
It’s helpful to familiarize yourself with fever, its function in the human body, and any warning signs that may mean it’s serious — or, alternatively, when you can relax.
Related: What you should do if your newborn has a cold
Normal body temperature is around 98.6°F, though it may fluctuate slightly higher or lower throughout the day. A fever starts with any temperature that reaches 100.4°F or above.
A temperature between 100.4°F and 102.2°F is considered a low-grade fever; a temperature above 102.2°F is considered a high fever.
A fever isn’t a sickness in itself. Instead, elevated body temperature is a sign that your child’s immune system is hard at work fighting off some type of invader — usually an illness or infection.
Along with an elevated temperature, your child may experience these fever symptoms:
•chills
•sweating
In young babies, even slight temperatures may be a reason for concern. That’s why you should always contact your doctor or head to urgent care if your little one has any fever that’s 100.4°F or above. (The same goes with a temperature lower than 97.7°F when taken rectally.)
You should also head to the ER if your baby has a fever and any of the following symptoms:
•trouble feeding
•trouble breathing
•unexplained rash
•vomiting or diarrhea
In older babies and toddlers, call your doctor if your child’s fever is 102.2°F or above.
You’ll also want to pay attention to how your child responds to over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Always ask your pediatrician about giving any OTC drugs to babies under age 1.
If the fever doesn’t respond to fever reducers (ibuprofen, acetaminophen), there may be something more serious going on.
Other symptoms that warrant urgent care:
•trouble waking up
•trouble breathing
For kids over age 3, a fever over 102° F that lasts for 2 or more days may be a reason for concern.
If their doctor tells you to keep an eye on it, a couple days may be OK.
However, if your little one has had a fever for 5 or more days, be sure to call back to make an appointment with their doctor. The same goes for a fever that doesn’t lower with OTC medications.
Other symptoms that may warrant urgent care:
•trouble breathing or swallowing
•difficulty keeping fluids down (vomiting)
You know your child best. If you feel in your gut something is wrong, don’t hesitate to give your pediatrician’s office a call. And don’t feel silly — they get questions all the time and would rather you be extra safe when it comes to your child’s health.
Get in touch with your doctor or urgent care if:
•Your baby is younger than 3 months old with a fever over 100.4°F.
•Your baby (ages 3 to 6 months) has a temperature of 102°F and is acting unlike themselves (lethargic, uncomfortable, etc.).
•Your older baby (ages 6 to 24 months) has a temperature over 102°F that lasts more than 1 day with no other signs of illness, like cough or diarrhea.
•Your child’s fever has been present for 5 days or longer.
Remember: You should always call your doctor for fever in babies under 3 months old.
Older kids do get fevers, though. So while it’s important to know when you should head to the doctor, it’s equally key to know when you can relax and monitor on your own.
In many cases, a fever is their body’s response to fighting off a mild illness. It will resolve on its own when the illness winds down and your child gets better.
You may be able to monitor at home if:
•A fever lasts fewer than 3 to 5 days, provided your little one is acting like themselves. Observe their eating, drinking, and play patterns to see if they’re at their normal level of activity. Being slightly more tired than usual is expected, though.
•The fever is below 102.5°F in children ages 3 months to 3 years or below 103°F in older kids. (Of course, this is provided there are no other warning signs.) Temperatures in this range are common and don’t necessarily signal an emergency.
Chances are, your little one will have many fevers in their lifetime.
Pay attention to the number on the thermometer but also look at your child. If they’re acting normally and drinking enough fluids — and their fever goes away relatively quickly — you can relax and try at-home comfort measures, like giving them a lukewarm bath.
- Ashley Marcin
Normal body temperature. The average normal body temperature taken orally (under the tongue) is about 37°C (98.6°F). It usually rises during the day from a low of 36.3°C (97.4°F) in the morning to a high of 37.6°C (99.6°F) in the late afternoon. Each child has a normal temperature range that may be different from another child's.
Oct 15, 2024 · A raised body temperature, measuring 38°C or higher. Feeling hot to touch. Feeling cold and shivery. Looking pale. Headache. Tummy ache. Red or flushed skin. Feeling sick. The actual level of the temperature in fever is not a good guide to how severely ill a child is once they are older than 6 months.
Jul 28, 2023 · A fever in children is a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Body temperature rises in response to infections, such as the flu or a cold. A high temperature, or fever, can happen for many ...
Oct 24, 2024 · Call a healthcare provider if your baby has any fever or if their temperature drops below 97.7 F (36.5 C) rectally. Your infant or child over 3 months has a fever: In babies and children over 3 ...
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Fluids: Offer plenty of fluids to drink. Prolonged fever can lead to dehydration. Sponge bath: Give your child a lukewarm sponge bath to help lower their temperature. Do not put your child in cold water or use rubbing alcohol to try to cool them off. Rubbing alcohol, inhaled or absorbed through the skin, can be toxic.
