Fever What is fever?
Fever is a body temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or greater.
Fever is a symptom, not a disease. Fever is the body’s
natural way of fighting off infections.
How should I take my child’s temperature?
The best method for taking a temperature is by using a rectal
thermometer. This is easy to do in infants and younger children,
and although uncomfortable, is not dangerous or harmful. The
next best method is an oral temperature. Be certain that your
child has not recently had anything very hot or very cold to
eat or drink, as this will cause your reading to be inaccurate.
Ear thermometers can be very accurate, but are best used in older
children whose ear canals are larger and straighter than in infants
or young children. Taking a temperature under the arm is also
acceptable in older children, but the reading is generally one
degree less than the actual body temperature. You should not
use an under arm temperature if the child has been playing or
exercising, or if they have been recently bundled with multiple
layers of clothing, as this will cause the reading to be inaccurate.
The hand is a very poor thermometer. Recent exercise or play,
being bundled with clothing, or being in a hot environment can
make the skin feel warm to the touch. Feeling for fever can not
be relied upon, and if you suspect your child has a fever, you
should use a thermometer to be certain.
My child has a fever. What should I do?
First, don’t panic! Fever
is not dangerous and does not cause brain or
other organ damage. Depending on your child’s
age, here is what you should do:
Children under 6 weeks of
age:
Call your doctor, go to Urgent
Care, or go to the Emergency Room immediately.
Do not give any medications unless advised
to do so by your doctor.
Children 6 weeks to 6 months
old:
Call your doctor for an
appointment as soon as the office opens.
You may give your child a dose of acetaminophen
(Tylenol® or Tempra®) according
to the package instructions.
Children over 6 months old:
Give your child a dose of
acetaminophen (Tylenol® or Tempra®)
or ibuprofen (Motrin® or Advil®)
according to the package instructions.
Call the office if the fever lasts more
than 48 hours.
For children of any age:
If your child has any of
the following symptoms you should call
the office immediately or take him to the
Urgent Care or Emergency Room:
Severe headache or stiff neck
Severe abdominal pain
Lethargy or difficulty awakening from sleep
A pinpoint bright red rash
Difficulty breathing or swallowing
Generally looks or acts very ill
Other things you can do to reduce fever include giving cool
fluids to drink, wiping the skin with a cool cloth, or placing
the child in a lukewarm bath. Never bath or wipe a child with
alcohol or place a child in a cold bath as this can cause a
rapid drop in body temperature, cause the child to begin shivering,
and cause seizures or a hypoglycemic coma.
Never give aspirin to children! This can result in Reye’s
syndrome and lead to liver damage and possibly death.
600 Beverly Hanks Center
Hendersonville, NC
(828) 693-3296
Medical Park Dr., Building 3
Brevard, NC
(828) 884-3440
