Fever is not a reason to panic, know what it is and what to do
Nothing sends a family to the ER at 2 in the morning like a high fever. But is that always necessary? Fevers are extremely common so it’s important for parents to know what to do and when to worry.
Fever is defined by a body temperature over 100.4 Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius. This is the same for everybody regardless of age or your perceived normal resting temperature. Your body normally gets warmer in the evening so it is very typical to see fevers occur at night more than during the day.
What causes a fever?
Think of your brain as a thermostat. When your immune system is faced with an invader (most commonly a virus in children) one of it’s responses is to turn up the thermostat. This higher body temperature helps kill the germs. So in reality, a fever is good for you! In order to generate heat and increase the body temperature, the muscles will shake. This is known as “chills”. After the body is finished with the fever, the blood vessels all dilate and you sweat out the extra heat.
Is a fever dangerous?
Because fevers help fight the viruses and bacteria that infect us, they aren’t entirely a bad thing. This applies to otherwise healthy children over 3 months of age who are not being treated for any underlying conditions. A high temperature due to a fever is not the same as hyperthermia or heat stroke. The brain will not allow the body to get to a dangerous temperature. Adding heat by wrapping your child in blankets can cause the body temperature to get too hot, so try to avoid adding extra heat. Furthermore, fever increase the work of your body, using up more resources. This can lead to dehydration so give you child plenty of fluids.
How do I treat my child’s fever?
Fevers can make children uncomfortable. Younger children may be very fussy and older children may complain of headache or generally not feeling well. However, because fevers are part of your child’s immune response, they don’t all need to be treated. Once fevers get to 102.5 or higher, there is a higher risk of dehydration. Parents can give fever reducing medications like Tylenol or Ibuprofen and should be sure their child is getting plenty of fluids. Check with your doctor first to be sure your child does not have a contraindication to using either medication. Don’t worry if the medication doesn’t bring the temperature down to normal or if the fever comes back after the medication wears off. This is not an indication of a more serious illness but just the typical pattern of having a fever. Furthermore, don’t alternate between the two medications as this increases the risk of overdosing on one or the other. Also, alternating the two medications does not make the illness go away any faster. For dosing information, please contact your doctor and never give Ibuprofen under 6 months of age. Never give Aspirin to children.
What is a febrile seizure?
A febrile seizure typically occurs in children 6 months to 6 years of age and can happen during a rapid change in body temperature. The seizure itself lasts less than 5 minutes and does not cause brain damage. It will typically alarm parents, sending them to the emergency room, but no anti-seizure medication will be necessary. The important thing to remember is to AVOID drastically lowering your child’s temperature in a cool bath. Once they come out of the cool water, if the brain still wants the body to be hotter, the temp will shoot up and that is when you can see a seizure.
When should I take my child to the doctor?
If your child is less than 3 months old, they should be seen immediately if they have a fever. Fever in this age group can be a sign of a serious bacterial infection and tests may need to be done to make the diagnosis. For all other children, it is important to look at their symptoms and consider what is causing the fever. Treat the child not the number. Do they have a cold? Is there vomiting and diarrhea? For otherwise healthy children with straightforward viral symptoms, they do not need to be seen right away for a fever. If there are concerning symptoms like trouble breathing, ear pain, severe abdominal pain or sore throat (to name a few), take your child in. If it is flu season, call your doctor’s office to see if they need to come in for an evaluation and consider Tamiflu. Any fever over 5 days or any fever without an obvious explanation should be evaluated. The good news is that serious bacterial infections that used to cause fevers without an obvious source are now prevented by vaccines. The best thing you can do for your child to prevent serious illness is to keep their vaccines up to date. Please note that the above advice does not apply to unvaccinated children. These children are at risk for serious illness and may need special tests.
As always, when in doubt, call your child’s doctor with any questions or concerns.