What is a fever?
A fever is one of the body’s natural defense mechanisms, and most of the time it is no reason to panic. When a child has a fever, it simply means that the body is raising its temperature to get rid of an infection or illness.
When should a doctor be called concerning fever?
Deciding when to call the doctor when your child has a fever depends on the child’s age and behavior. Generally, if a child is 3 months old or younger, it is a good idea to call your doctor if a rectal temperature gets to be 100.5 or higher.
For children older than 3 months, besides the body temperature itself, it is important for parents to pay attention to other symptoms including:
- Eating habits
- Shortness of breath
- Urinary output
- Diarrhea
Talk with your doctor if your child’s fever is accompanied by other symptoms and especially if the child’s behavior is not normal.
How should a fever be treated?
Sometimes your child may have a fever, but seems fine otherwise. For children with no other symptoms, treating a fever can be as simple as giving Tylenol™ or Ibuprofen.
Both the child’s age and weight are the best measures for proper medication dosing. If a child is bigger than average, the amount recommended for him may be different than another child. The Clarian Arnett Pediatric website, located at clarianarnett.com, has proper medication dosing by weight for several different over-the-counter medications.
Talk with your doctor before giving an infant or toddler any over-the-counter medications and especially if the fever lasts longer than 2 days.
If a fever reaches above 105 degrees Fahrenheit, seek medical attention immediately.
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