When Is Your Child’s Fever a Health Risk?

 Fever in children is a common symptom of this disease and is usually not a cause for concern. In most cases, fever is the body's natural response to an infection or illness. However, there are some cases where a child's fever may indicate a more serious health risk.

When your baby's temperature starts to rise, it can be understandably scary. However, most fevers are not emergencies and can be treated with over-the-counter fluids and pain relievers.

Knowing when to treat your child's fever at home and when to take him to the doctor can give you the confidence to make the right decisions for your child.

What’s a Fever?

A fever is a temporary increase in body temperature that is often a sign of an underlying illness or infection. The normal body temperature for a healthy adult is about 98.6°F (37°C). However, fever is usually defined as a body temperature above 100.4 °F (38 °C) when measured orally.

Fever is a natural reaction of the body's immune system to fight infection and disease. When the body detects the presence of foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins, it reacts by raising its core temperature. This increased body temperature stimulates the body's immune response and makes it difficult for invading organisms to survive.

Fever is a common symptom of many illnesses, including colds, flu, infections, and other conditions. However, in some cases, a high fever may be a sign of a more serious condition and should be seen by a doctor.

Fever can be treated with over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. It helps lower fever and relieves associated symptoms such as headaches and muscle aches. Eating and resting during a fever is also important to help your body recover from any underlying illness or infection.

When to call a doctor.

It is important to remember that fever is not a disease. It is the body's way of fighting disease. But when the fever becomes high or is accompanied by other symptoms, a visit to the doctor or pediatric urgent care department may be the right choice.

Your response to a child's fever will depend on their age, temperature, and other factors. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should call your doctor or go to the emergency room if your child:

• He/she is less than 3 months old and has a temperature of 100.4 or higher.
• A temperature of 104 or higher at any age.
• There are other symptoms, such as a stiff neck, an unexplained rash, frequent vomiting or diarrhea, severe headache, sore throat, or ear pain.
• Had a seizure
• Signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, sunken spots or very few wet nappies and unable to take liquids
• Fever for more than 24 hours if they are younger than 2 years, or more than three days if they are 2 years or older.