Fevers / Taking Your Child’s Temperature
By Lauren Warn, APN-NP
You may never know the cause of a fever but this is usually a sign that your child may have developed a new infection – usually viral, sometimes bacterial. Remember, we do not treat the “number” of a fever, we treat the symptoms of a fever. Generally a fever will last 2-3 days but it is not necessarily abnormal for a fever to last up to 7 days. Typically if your child’s fever is lasting over 3 days and you can’t explain why (cold, flu, etc.), you should probably check in with us.
Try to avoid taking temperatures with forehead or ear thermometers. The most reliable ways to take your child’s temperature are rectally, orally, or axillary (armpit).
If your child has a true fever after checking with a thermometer please assess your child’s level of comfort. If your child is uncomfortable due to the fever after lighter dressing, tepid baths, or cool washcloths have not comforted your child, please administer an anti-pyretic medication – ibuprofen or acetaminophen - NEVER use aspirin. If your child responds to medication (fever reduces, child perks up) please continue to monitor your child. These medicines generally take 45 minutes or so to work, but it may take 1-2 hours to see a full effect of the medication. A medication is not intended to bring a temperature back to normal, it will only decrease your child’s temperature 1-2 degrees, in order to get them to a point where they are more comfortable. You may need to re-administer meds every 4-8 hours as needed during the acute phase of the illness. Most importantly keep your child well hydrated.
*If your child is not tolerating medicine (ie. throwing up), try administering small amounts over a longer period of time. ie. ¼ of the full dose, then 2-3 minutes later another ¼ of the dose, etc. If that does not work you may use rectal suppository acetaminophen. You can purchase these suppositories over the counter and they are dosed by the same milligrams as the oral acetaminophen, every 4 hours.
Please note that there is an extensive dosage chart on our website. See the menu on the left side and click on “Doctor’s Dosing Chart”.
To measure the medicine:
· Ask the pharmacist for an oral syringe. Ask them how to measure the correct amount.
OR:
· Use the measuring cup or syringe in the box. Ask the pharmacist how to measure the correct amount.
Some cough and cold products may contain acetaminophen or ibuprofen as a combination product. If this is the case, check with your doctor which one you should take.
Call 911 or seek immediate medical attention if your child has a fever with any of the following symptoms:
Fever myths:
My child feels warm, they must be sick: Children can be warm for many reasons – playing, crying, warm weather, over-dressed. If they feel warm. please lightly dress them, have them rest, and give them 20 minutes to “cool down” prior to taking temperature
Fevers are bad for children: Fevers are not bad. They are doing the body good by helping make an inhabitable environment for viruses and bacteria to continue living. Fevers are good for sick children
Fevers will cause brain damage: Fevers cannot cause brain damage until they reach above 108
Fevers will cause seizures: less than 4% of children will have a febrile seizure. Although they are scary to watch they usually stop within 5 minutes and do not cause any permanent harm.
If I don’t treat with meds the fever will rise: Our bodies are smart and our brain knows when the body is too hot. Most fevers will not rise above 103-104.
The fever should be normal with medicine: Medicine will only bring your child’s temperature down 1-2 degrees. Enough to take away the discomfort caused by the fever.
A fever should stay down once down: fevers will continue to fluctuate. Generally for 2-3 days. When medicine wears off, expect the fever to return and you may need to retreat. Fevers will stop returning once the body overcomes the virus.
If the number is high it must be serious: the number for the most part does not matter. How your child looks and acts is important.!
Fevers are one of the good guys!
By Lauren Warn, APN-NP
You may never know the cause of a fever but this is usually a sign that your child may have developed a new infection – usually viral, sometimes bacterial. Remember, we do not treat the “number” of a fever, we treat the symptoms of a fever. Generally a fever will last 2-3 days but it is not necessarily abnormal for a fever to last up to 7 days. Typically if your child’s fever is lasting over 3 days and you can’t explain why (cold, flu, etc.), you should probably check in with us.
Try to avoid taking temperatures with forehead or ear thermometers. The most reliable ways to take your child’s temperature are rectally, orally, or axillary (armpit).
- Low grade: 100-102 degrees. This is considered a helpful fever as it is helping your child’s body fight off the virus or bacteria. You do not have to treat with medications unless your child is uncomfortable (decreased activity level, decreased intake, etc.). Lightly dress your child, put them in a tepid bath, or put a cool washcloth on their head. Monitor for the fever to rise.
- Mid-grade or “average” fevers: 102-104. These temperatures are also helpful to your child’s body – fighting off infection. You may continue to watch, treat only if it is causing discomfort to the child.
- High grade: 104-106: This high of a fever will most likely cause discomfort in your child, but still is considered harmless. Always treat a temp over 104 with medication (acetaminophen or ibuprofen).
- Very high grade: 106-108: Always treat. It is very important to bring this temp down safely with medications, lightly dressing, tepid bath, cool wash cloths. Temps this high are rare.
- Dangerous fever: 108 or greater: Administer anti-pyretic medications and go to the emergency room.
If your child has a true fever after checking with a thermometer please assess your child’s level of comfort. If your child is uncomfortable due to the fever after lighter dressing, tepid baths, or cool washcloths have not comforted your child, please administer an anti-pyretic medication – ibuprofen or acetaminophen - NEVER use aspirin. If your child responds to medication (fever reduces, child perks up) please continue to monitor your child. These medicines generally take 45 minutes or so to work, but it may take 1-2 hours to see a full effect of the medication. A medication is not intended to bring a temperature back to normal, it will only decrease your child’s temperature 1-2 degrees, in order to get them to a point where they are more comfortable. You may need to re-administer meds every 4-8 hours as needed during the acute phase of the illness. Most importantly keep your child well hydrated.
*If your child is not tolerating medicine (ie. throwing up), try administering small amounts over a longer period of time. ie. ¼ of the full dose, then 2-3 minutes later another ¼ of the dose, etc. If that does not work you may use rectal suppository acetaminophen. You can purchase these suppositories over the counter and they are dosed by the same milligrams as the oral acetaminophen, every 4 hours.
Please note that there is an extensive dosage chart on our website. See the menu on the left side and click on “Doctor’s Dosing Chart”.
To measure the medicine:
· Ask the pharmacist for an oral syringe. Ask them how to measure the correct amount.
OR:
· Use the measuring cup or syringe in the box. Ask the pharmacist how to measure the correct amount.
Some cough and cold products may contain acetaminophen or ibuprofen as a combination product. If this is the case, check with your doctor which one you should take.
Call 911 or seek immediate medical attention if your child has a fever with any of the following symptoms:
- Trouble breathing; bluish or pale lips/face
- Cannot wake up
- Not moving or too weak to stand
- Purple or blood colored spots on skin
- If you think your child is having a life threatening emergency
Fever myths:
My child feels warm, they must be sick: Children can be warm for many reasons – playing, crying, warm weather, over-dressed. If they feel warm. please lightly dress them, have them rest, and give them 20 minutes to “cool down” prior to taking temperature
Fevers are bad for children: Fevers are not bad. They are doing the body good by helping make an inhabitable environment for viruses and bacteria to continue living. Fevers are good for sick children
Fevers will cause brain damage: Fevers cannot cause brain damage until they reach above 108
Fevers will cause seizures: less than 4% of children will have a febrile seizure. Although they are scary to watch they usually stop within 5 minutes and do not cause any permanent harm.
If I don’t treat with meds the fever will rise: Our bodies are smart and our brain knows when the body is too hot. Most fevers will not rise above 103-104.
The fever should be normal with medicine: Medicine will only bring your child’s temperature down 1-2 degrees. Enough to take away the discomfort caused by the fever.
A fever should stay down once down: fevers will continue to fluctuate. Generally for 2-3 days. When medicine wears off, expect the fever to return and you may need to retreat. Fevers will stop returning once the body overcomes the virus.
If the number is high it must be serious: the number for the most part does not matter. How your child looks and acts is important.!
Fevers are one of the good guys!