Fever

Definition and Causes

Fever is an elevation of the body’s temperature, which occurs in response to many different causes. Usually, fever alone is not an emergency and does not need emergency treat­ment.  It is most frequently caused by a viral or bacterial infection and is not a disease.  Fever is one of the body’s ways of combating the infection.

Symptoms

Normal temperature in infants and children ranges up to 100.4^o F rectally or 99.5^o F orally.  Axillary temperatures, which measure only surface temperature, range up to 98.6^o F.  Tympanic thermometers are available to measure the temperature of the eardrum.  It is considered to be inaccurate in infants and most toddlers.

Home Care

The usual reason for treating a fever is to make the child more comfortable.  Basic measures to lower the body temperature are: dressing in loose, thin clothing, frequent offerings of cool liquids by mouth, rest, and the administration of medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil).  These medications serve only to lower the body temperature and to relieve aches and pains.  Doses of these medications accompany the packages.  Do not use aspirin or products containing aspirin in children.

“Infant Motrin/Advil Drops” are not recommended for infants under the age 6 months.  Do not interchange “Infant Motrin/Advil Drops” with “Children’s Motrin/Advil Suspension”, because the concentration of these products are different.  Likewise, do not interchange “Infant Tylenol Drops” with “Children’s Tylenol Suspension”, because the concentration of these products are different.

The dosages for “Infant Tylenol Drops” are as follows.  You may give a maximum of 5 doses in 24 hours.

Sponging or vigorous bathing is hardly ever necessary to treat fever.  However, if adequate amounts of acetaminophen or ibuprofen have been given and the child is still quite uncomfortable, sponging for 20 to 30 minutes may be helpful. NEVER rub down a child with alcohol.

When to Call the Doctor

All convulsions should be evaluated by your child’s physician.  In addition, call our office anytime there are symptoms bothersome or alarming to you such as severe headache or pain elsewhere, unusual listlessness or lethargy, a steadily worsening cough, persistent diarrhea or vomiting, breathing difficulty, rash, difficulty waking your child, or refusal of food or liquids.  We recommend that after 3 days or more of fever, even in the absence of other significant symptoms, you contact your pediatrician’s office.  If your child is under 3 months of age, be sure to call if the rectal temperature is above 100.4^o F, or if it is over 104^o F at any age.