Here are some suggestions for you when your child becomes ill. These are general safe instructions regardless of the illness. Fever is perhaps the most overrated of all symptoms and often causes a great deal of unnecessary concern.
Fever is temperature elevation, usually in response to infection. It is a symptom, not a disease. Fever is one of the body’s natural ways of fighting infection. Fever is defined by a temperature of 100.4 F or greater regardless of the manner of measurement.
No, not necessarily. Harmless viral illnesses may cause high fever and dangerous bacterial illnesses may only have fevers of 100 to 102. How your child looks and acts is just as important as the temperature. Fever is usually higher at night. Viruses commonly cause fever lasting two to four days.
The brain controls fever and will not let it go to a dangerous level unless a child is over bundled. When treating with acetaminophen or ibuprofen, fever can return after medication has worn off. This is no cause for concern.
Fever by itself does not cause brain damage unless the temperature exceeds 107 F. We should be notified when a fever exceeds 105 F.
Not necessarily. Approximately 4 children out of 100 will have a fever convulsion (febrile seizure) sometime during the first 5 years of life. Fever convulsions rarely occur after 6 years of age. Seizures most commonly occur with rapid rise in fever rather than prolonged high fever. Febrile seizures rarely last more than 3 to 4 minutes and do not cause brain damage. Please call us if your child experiences a seizure. Until you speak to us, place the child on his side and bring his temperature down by sponging with tepid water. Do not bathe your child in alcohol.
It is important to take your baby’s temperature if you suspect he or she is ill. The temperature may be taken under the arm, rectally or with an infrared forehead scanner. In the older child, you may measure temperature under the tongue. Tympanic (ear) thermometers are inaccurate for children under two years of age. We prefer that you report the temperature you read and the site it was obtained rather than adding to or subtracting from the number.
Example: “I got 101 degrees under the arm.”
We recommend using a basic digital thermometer. Traditional mercury thermometers work well, but are difficult to read and pose an environmental hazard when they break. Adhesive thermometers that attach to the skin and pacifier thermometers are inaccurate.
Nonemergency – call during office hours.
Emergency – call after hours if necessary.
Low grade fevers (101 degrees or less) do not need to be treated at all. They generally do not make children uncomfortable and may actually be beneficial during an illness.
Temperature of over 101 usually makes the child uncomfortable (aching, chilling, etc.) and for that reason you will probably want to give your child something for it. Do not awaken a sleeping child who is resting comfortably just to give him something for the fever. For fever or discomfort due to illness or immunization in children over two months we recommend giving acetaminophen every 4 to 6 hours. It is most accurate to base the dose on weight.
Always check the concentration and type of the medication you are using. Aspirin should NEVER be given to a child.
Thirty to sixty minutes are needed for fever medicines to take effect, and your child may only cool by 1-2 degrees. It is not essential to make your child’s temperature 98.6 F (37 C), only to make your child more comfortable. Dress your child in light clothing.
Diet: You do not have to limit your child’s diet just because she has a fever. It is OK to give milk when a child has fever. A child usually loses his appetite during illnesses; don’t worry. Concentrate your efforts on encouraging fluid intake. As the infant or child improves they will return to a regular diet.
Activity: Children usually display diminished tolerance for activity when ill, especially when there is fever. Strict bed rest is not necessary. As illness resolves, your child will resume his or her normal level of activity. After 24 hours without fever, a child may return to daycare or school.
If there are questions about your child’s illness please feel free to phone the office. Our telephone nurses are here to help you beginning at 8:00AM Monday through Saturday.
