Consumer Information

Fever In Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

"Fever" is a word used for a temperature that is higher than normal for the body. A fever is not a disease. It is a common sign of illness, infection or other conditions. Although there are many reasons for a fever, most fevers are caused by a viral (germ) infection (in-FEK-shun). Your child's body may use a fever to actually help fight the infection. Most fevers go away in a few days, but they may last longer. The signs and symptoms of a fever depend upon what caused your child's fever.
Sometimes a child whose fever rises or falls very fast may become very confused or have a seizure (SE-zhur). Febrile seizures happen more often in children under five years old than they do in older children. Febrile seizures are not common, and usually do not cause brain damage or harm to your child. Always call your child's caregiver right away if your child has a seizure. The caregiver may want to see your child to be sure the seizure was not caused by another medical condition.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines: If your baby is under three months old and has a fever, always call his caregiver. Ask your child's caregiver what you should do. If your child has a fever below 101°F (38.3 °C) and feels OK, he may not need medicine. Ask the caregiver about giving medicine if your child or another family member has had a febrile seizure in the past.

Always give your child's medicine as directed by caregivers: If you think a medicine is not helping or is causing side effects, call your child's caregiver. Keep a written list of what medicines your child takes, the amounts, and when and why they are taken. Bring the list of your child's medicines or the pill bottles when you visit your child's caregivers. Ask your child's caregiver for more information about the medicines. Do not give any medicines to your child without first asking your child's caregiver. This includes prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements.
Give your child fever medicine if he needs it:
- Acetaminophen (a-seet-a-MIN-oh-fen) and ibuprofen (eye-bu-PROH-fen) are over-the-counter medicines that may decrease your child's fever or discomfort. Some children, especially those under six months old, may be too young to take certain medicines. Be sure to read the label on the medicine bottle before giving the medicine to your child. Ask your child's caregiver to help you choose the best medicine and right amount to give your child.
- Give the medicine time to work. Take your child's temperature 30 to 45 minutes after you give him fever medicine. Remember that fever medicine may not cause your child's fever to completely go away. It may only lower the fever.
Do not give aspirin to children under 18 years of age: Giving aspirin to your child when he is ill may cause a very serious illness called Reye's Syndrome. This could lead to brain and liver damage. Read medicine labels to see if your child's medicine has aspirin in it.
Read the ingredient labels of all medicines that you give to your child: If your child is using medicine for other symptoms such as cough or cold, read the medicine labels carefully. Many of these medicines may also have acetaminophen or ibuprofen in them. If you give these medicines and the fever medicines, you may be giving your child too much medicine. This could harm your child.
Your child may or may not need antibiotics: If your child has an infection caused by a virus, antibiotics (an-ti-bi-OT-iks) will not make it go away. Antibiotics may help your child's body fight infection if the infection is caused by bacteria (bak-TEE-ree-ah). If the caregiver prescribes antibiotics for your child, always use this medicine exactly as ordered. Keep giving this medicine until it is completely gone, even if your child feels better. Stopping an antibiotic without the caregiver's OK may make it unable to kill the bacteria causing the infection.

How can I make my child more comfortable while he has a fever?

Help your child to rest.
- Some children who have a fever do not feel tired or sick. If your child feels OK, allow him to do play that will not make him too tired. If your child feels sick, help him to rest. Give him books or a drawing pad for quiet play, or let him watch TV or a movie. Once your child begins to feel better, let him do more.
- If your baby has a fever, keep him quiet and rested. Hold him quietly while sitting in a rocking chair, or singing or speaking softly to your baby.
Give your child plenty of liquids. Help your child drink at least six to eight cups of clear liquids each day. Give your child liquids such as water, juice, broth or decaffeinated sports drinks.
Give your baby or toddler plenty of liquids.
- If you are breast feeding or feeding your child formula, continue to do so. Your baby may not feel like drinking his regular amounts with each feeding. If so, feed him smaller amounts of breast milk or formula more often.
- Do not give sports drinks to babies and toddlers. If you think your child is becoming dehydrated, talk to his caregiver. Ask if you should give your child oral rehydration solution (ORS) to drink. An ORS has the right amounts of water, salts, and sugar your child needs to replace body fluids. This may help prevent dehydration.
Dress your child in lightweight clothing. Dress your child in one layer of comfortable clothing such as thin pajamas or a tee shirt and soft pants. Cover your child with a lightweight blanket or sheet. Change your child's clothes, blanket or sheets if they become damp (wet).
Keep the room cool, but not cold. If the room is warm or stuffy, turn on a fan to keep air blowing through. Turn the fan off if you see your child shivering.
Use cool compresses. You may place a cool compress on your child's forehead. Dip a clean washcloth into cool or lukewarm water. Wring it out and place it on your child's forehead or on the back of his neck.
Keep your child away from others if his fever is caused by a contagious illness. Ask the caregiver if your child's fever is a sign of contagious illness (able to be spread to others). Try to keep your child away from others in your household while he has a fever and feels bad. Do not take your child to school or daycare until his fever is gone, and he is feeling better. Wash your and your child's hands often with soap and water.

Should I sponge bathe my child when he has a fever? Sponging may be a good way to cool down your child if he is vomiting a lot or cannot take fever medicine. Sometimes sponging is used together with fever medicines to help decrease fever and discomfort. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests sponging one hour after giving fever medicine if:

Your child's temperature is 104°F (40°C) or higher.
Your child or another family member has had febrile seizures caused by fevers in the past.
Your child feels very uncomfortable because of his fever.
Your child has been vomiting and you do not know how much medicine he has kept in his stomach.

Use lukewarm water to sponge bathe. Never use rubbing alcohol, ice or cold water to give a sponge bath. Check your child's temperature about 30 to 45 minutes after you started sponging. Ask your child's caregiver for more information about when and how to sponge bathe your child.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

Your baby has a fever, and he is less than three months old.
Your newborn baby is wrapped or dressed as he usually is, but he has a low rectal temperature. A low rectal temperature is 95°F (35°C) or lower. This may be sign of infection.
Your baby is two months old or less , and his rectal temperature is 100.2 °F (37.9 °C) or higher.
Your child is three to six months old , and his temperature is 101°F (38.3°C) or higher.
Your child is over six months old , and his temperature is 103°F (39.4°C) or higher.
Your child had a fever that went away for 24 hours (one full day) and then came back again.
Your child's fever has not gone away after three days.
Your child has a fever and burning or pain when he urinates. Also call if your child has a fever and ear pain or severe (very bad) throat pain.
Your child is less alert, less active, or is acting very different than he usually does.
Your child has a dry mouth, cracked lips, cries without tears, or is dizzy. Your child may be dehydrated, which is a loss of too much body water and salts. Call if your baby has a dry diaper (no urine) for eight hours or more.
You have questions or concerns about your child or his fever.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

Your child has a rectal temperature over 105°F (40.6°C).
Your child looks or acts very sick.
Your child has a seizure (convulsion) or starts having abnormal movements of the face, arms or legs.
Your child has trouble breathing, or if he is drooling and not able to swallow.
Your child has stiffness of the neck, confusion or will not wake up.
Your child will not stop crying even after you have tried all your usual ways to calm him.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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