Article Translations: (Spanish)
Parents might worry when a child's temperature rises, but a fever itself causes no harm and can actually be a good thing — often, it's the body's way of fighting infections.
A child who has a fever might be:
Call the doctor’s office if your baby is younger than 3 months old with a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. If you can’t reach the doctor, go to the ER.
It's best to keep a child with a fever home from school or childcare until their temperature has been normal for at least 24 hours. If your child is uncomfortable, here are some ways to ease symptoms:
All kids get a fever from time to time, and in most cases they're back to normal within a few days. The key is to make your child as comfortable as possible until the fever passes, and get medical care when needed.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-2024 KidsHealth ® All rights reserved. Images provided by iStock, Getty Images, Corbis, Veer, Science Photo Library, Science Source Images, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com