The wait times in our emergency departments are longer than usual due to illnesses like RSV and the flu. View our estimated ED wait times and learn more about where to get care for your sick child.

Patient & Family Education Materials

Start over with a New Search

What's a Fever?

Article Translations: (Spanish)

Fever

Say: FEE-ver

You've probably noticed that sometimes when you're sick, you feel really hot one minute and then freezing cold the next. And to make things weirder, grown-ups keep touching your face and forehead all the time. When this happens, chances are you have a fever.

A fever is when your body gets a little hotter than normal on the inside. This can mean that your body has just been invaded by germs. When germs get inside your body, your body tries to get rid of them by turning up the heat. So a fever means your body is trying to get better again!

Back To Top

Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

© 1995-2025 KidsHealth ® All rights reserved. Images provided by iStock, Getty Images, Corbis, Veer, Science Photo Library, Science Source Images, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com