Fever (High Temperature) In Kids

How Should I Take My Child's Temperature?

If your child feels warm or is acting unwell, use a digital thermometer to confirm a fever. Different ways of taking the temperature are more accurate than others at measuring the true body temperature.

The best way to take a temperature:

• for kids 3 years old and younger: a rectal temperature
• for kids 4 or older who can cooperate: an oral temperature (by mouth)
• for any age: under the armpit (axillary) and temporal artery (forehead) are easiest but less accurate. Tympanic (in the ear) is OK for kids 6 months and older.

It's a fever when a child's temperature is at or above one of these levels:

• rectal (in the bottom), tympanic (in the ear), or temporal artery (across the forehead): 100.4°F (38°C)
• oral (in the mouth): 100°F (37.8°C)
• axillary (under the arm): 99°F (37.2°C)

Treating a Fever (High Temperature): How Can I Help My Child Feel Better?

No treatment is needed if a child is still playing and drinking normally and doesn’t have pain. 

Treating a fever with medicine isn't needed if a child is still playing and drinking normally and doesn’t have pain. Give medicine only when a fever causes a child discomfort or keeps them from drinking.

While kids have a fever, keep an eye on them, help them to rest, and keep offering liquids to drink. They need to drink a little extra to make up for the fluids they lose from sweating.

Fever (High Temperature): Home Care Measures

Medicines

If your child is uncomfortable from a fever or not drinking liquids well, you can give one of these medicines:

• acetaminophen (such as Tylenol or a store brand)
  or
• ibuprofen (such as Advil, Motrin, or a store brand). Do not give to children under 6 months old.

Follow the package directions for how much to give and how often. If you don't know the recommended dose or your child is younger than 2 years old, call the doctor to find out what to use and how much to give.

• If your child has any medical problems, check with the doctor to see which medicine to use.
  
• Unless instructed to by a doctor, never give aspirin to a child. Such use is linked to Reye syndrome, a rare but serious illness.

Do not give any medicine for fever to infants younger than 3 months old unless instructed to by a doctor.

Staying Comfortable

If your child has a fever:

• Have them wear lightweight clothing and stay covered with a light sheet or blanket. Heavy clothes and blankets can keep the body from cooling, which can make your child uncomfortable.
• Keep the room at a comfortable temperature — not too hot or too cold.
• Make sure they get plenty of rest. Staying in bed all day isn't necessary, but a sick child should take it easy.
• They should stay home from school or childcare until their temperature has been normal for 24 hours.

Lukewarm sponge baths to lower a fever generally are not recommended. In fact, sponge baths can make kids uncomfortable from shivering. Never use rubbing alcohol (it can cause poisoning when absorbed through the skin) or ice packs/cold baths (they can cause chills that can raise body temperature).

Food and Drinks

Offer plenty of liquids to avoid dehydration because fevers make kids lose fluids faster than usual. Oral rehydration solutions (like Pedialyle, Enfalyte, or store brands) are a good choice. You also can give water, soup, ice pops, and flavored gelatin. Avoid drinks with caffeine, including colas and tea, which can make dehydration worse by making kids pee more often.

Let kids eat what they want (in reasonable amounts), but don't force it if they don't feel like eating much.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

The temperature that should trigger a call to the doctor depends on a child's age, the illness, and whether they have other symptoms. You might ask if your doctor has specific guidelines on when to call about a fever.

In general, call the doctor if your child is:

• younger than 3 months old with a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
• 3 months or older with a temperature higher than 102.2°F (39°C)
• any age but has a health problem like cancer or sickle cell disease and has a fever

Also call the doctor if your child is 3 months or older, has a fever, and:

• doesn't want to drink liquids or seems too ill to drink enough
• has lasting diarrhea or repeated vomiting
• has any signs of dehydration (peeing less than usual, not having tears when crying, less alert and less active than usual)
• has a specific complaint (like a sore throat or earache)
• still has a fever after 2–3 days
• has a rash
• has pain while peeing

Get emergency care if your child shows any of these signs:

• crying that won't stop
• extreme irritability or fussiness
• sluggishness and trouble waking up
• a rash or purple spots that look like bruises on the skin (that were not there before your child got sick)
• blue lips, tongue, or nails
• in an infant, the soft spot on the head seems to be bulging out or sunken in
• stiff neck
• severe headache
• limpness or refusal to move
• trouble breathing that doesn't get better when the nose is cleared
• leaning forward and drooling
• seizure
• moderate to severe belly pain

What Else Should I Know?

All kids get fevers, and in most cases they're back to normal within a few days. For older babies and kids, the way they act can be more important than the reading on your thermometer. Everyone gets a little cranky when they have a fever. This is normal and should be expected.

But you know your child best. If you're ever in doubt about what to do or what a fever might mean, or if your child seems ill in a way that concerns you even with no fever, always call your doctor for advice.