Fever
Bennett JE, et al. Temperature regulation and the pathogenesis of fever. Accessed April 6, Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Fever in infants and children: Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics; Marx JA, et al. Concepts and Clinical Practice. Accessed May 9, How to take a child's temperature. American Academy of Pediatrics. Accessed May 11, Fever in children Beyond the basics.
Infant fever age 90 days or younger. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; American College of Emergency Physicians.
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Accessed May 18, Fever in the adult patient. Approach to the adult with fever of unknown origin.
Survey: 84 percent of parents suffer from ‘fever phobia'
Accessed May 30, Febrile seizures fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Accessed May 31, A fever is a body temperature that is higher than normal.
A normal temperature can vary from person to person, but it is usually around A fever is not a disease. It is usually a sign that your body is trying to fight an illness or infection. Infections cause most fevers.
Fever: What you need to know
You get a fever because your body is trying to kill the virus or bacteria that caused the infection. Most of those bacteria and viruses do well when your body is at your normal temperature. In most cases, a fever should be treated only if it's causing a child discomfort. If your child is fussy or uncomfortable, you can give acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on the package recommendations for age or weight. Unless instructed by a doctor, never give aspirin to a child due to its association with Reye syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.
If you don't know the recommended dose or your child is younger than 2 years old, call the doctor to find out how much to give. Infants younger than 2 months old should not be given any medicine for fever without being checked by a doctor. If your child has any medical problems, check with the doctor to see which medicine is best to use. Remember that fever medicine can temporarily bring a temperature down, but usually won't return it to normal — and it won't treat the underlying reason for the fever.
Dress your child in lightweight clothing and cover with a light sheet or blanket. Overdressing and overbundling can prevent body heat from escaping and can cause the temperature to rise.
Fever: Symptoms, treatments, types, and causes
While some parents use lukewarm sponge baths to lower fever, this method only helps temporarily, if at all. In fact, sponge baths can make kids uncomfortable. Offer plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration because fevers make kids lose fluids more rapidly than usual. Water, soup, ice pops, and flavored gelatin are all good choices. Avoid drinks with caffeine, including colas and tea, because they can make dehydration worse by increasing urination peeing. You can find these at drugstores and supermarkets.
Don't offer sports drinks — they're not made for younger children and the added sugars can make diarrhea worse. Also, limit your child's intake of fruits and apple juice.
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In general, let kids eat what they want in reasonable amounts , but don't force it if they don't feel like it. Make sure your child gets plenty of rest. Staying in bed all day isn't necessary, but a sick child should take it easy. It's best to keep a child with a fever home from school or childcare.
Most doctors feel that it's safe to return when the temperature has been normal for 24 hours. The exact temperature that should trigger a call to the doctor depends on a child's age, the illness, and whether there are other symptoms with the fever.