A fever is a rise in body temperature that goes above a certain level.
In general, a fever means a temperature above 37.5. You might get slightly different numbers depending on how you take your child's temperature – oral (mouth), armpit, ear, forehead, or rectal.
Armpit, ear, and forehead temperatures are easier to measure than rectal or oral temperatures, but they are not as accurate. Even so, the height of the temperature is less important than how sick your child seems to you. If you think your child has a fever, and they seem sick, your child's doctor or nurse might want you to double-check the temperature with an oral or rectal reading.
What causes fever?
The most common cause of fever in children is infection. For example, children can get a fever if they have:
-A cold or the flu -An airway infection, such as croup or bronchiolitis -A stomach bug In some cases, children get a fever after getting a vaccine.
Should I take my child to see a doctor or nurse?
You should take your child to a doctor or nurse if they are: -Younger than 3 months and have a temperature of 38ºC or higher. Your infant should see a doctor or nurse even if they look normal or seems fine. Do not give fever medicines to an infant younger than 3 months unless a doctor or nurse tells you to. -Between 3 and 36 months and have a rectal temperature of 38ºC or higher for more than 3 days. Go right away if your child seems sick, is fussy or clingy, or refuses to drink fluids. -Between 3 and 36 months old and have a rectal temperature of 38.9ºC or higher. Children of any age should also see a doctor or nurse if they have:
-Temperature of 103ºF (39.4ºC) or higher -A seizure caused by a fever -Fevers that keep coming back (even if they last only a few hours) -A fever as well as an ongoing medical problem, such as heart disease, cancer, lupus, or sickle cell anemia -A fever as well as a new skin rash
What can I do to help my child feel better?
You can:
Offer your child lots of fluids to drink. Call the doctor or nurse if the child won't or can't drink fluids for more than a few hours. Encourage your child to rest as much as they want. But don't force them to sleep or rest. (Your child can go back to school or regular activities after they have had a normal temperature for 24 hours.) Some parents give their children sponge baths to cool them down, but that is not usually necessary. Sometimes people think they can cool a child down by putting rubbing alcohol on their skin or adding it to a bath. But this is dangerous. Do not use any kind of alcohol to try to treat a fever.
How are fevers treated?
That depends on what is causing the fever. Many children do not need treatment. Those who do might need:
Antibiotics to fight the infection causing the fever. But antibiotics work only on infections caused by bacteria, not on infections caused by viruses. For example, antibiotics will not work on a cold. Medicines, such as Panado or Calpol or Ibugesig can help bring down a fever. But these medicines are not always necessary. For instance, a child older than 3 months who has a temperature of less than 38.9ºC and who is otherwise healthy and acting normally, does not need treatment. If you do not know how best to handle your child's fever, call their nurse or doctor. Never give Aspirin to a child younger than 18 years old. Aspirin can cause a dangerous condition called Reye syndrome.