Taking the Worry Out of Fevers

Courtesy of Navjyot Kaur Vidwan, MD, infectious disease specialist, The Children’s Medical Center of Dayton

For a new parent, taking care of a child’s fever may appear baffling. Each child’s needs vary, and advice for different age groups can get confusing. The good news is that there are a few simple guidelines that can help take the guesswork out of managing your little one’s fever.

The first step in treating your child’s fever is to understand it. A high temperature by itself is not an illness but the body’s response to fighting against infection. It can also be caused by overdressing, especially in infants, or as a reaction to immunizations. Teething can also contribute to some fevers under 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

To avoid unnecessary worry, take your child’s temperature at home before calling the doctor. It’s recommended you use a rectal thermometer when your child is under three months, and either a rectal or ear thermometer between the ages of three months and four years. Once you have a temperature reading, choosing your next step is simple.

Call the doctor if your child is under three months with a rectal temperature of 100.4° or higher, or if your child is between three months and three years with a fever of 102.2° or higher. If your child’s fever is lower than this, you can usually nurse him back to health at home.

Parents can use fever medication for the purpose of alleviating a child’s discomfort. You can give either acetaminophen or ibuprofen, but no products containing aspirin. Infants under two months old should never be given fever medicine without seeing a doctor. Also, avoid alternating acetaminophen and ibuprofen to prevent the risk of over dosage.

Alongside medicine, you can also treat your child’s fever by dressing her in light, cotton pajamas, keeping the room around 70°, and encouraging her to drink clear liquids.

Furthermore, if your child shows any irregular reactions to fever or medicine, such as unresponsiveness, stiff neck, difficulty breathing, bluish lips, or purple or red spots on the skin, call 911 immediately. Your child’s fever can seem daunting at first, but preparing yourself will make the episode less painful for both you and your child.