A fever is a rise in body temperature. The fever itself is not an illness, but more a sign of illness, signaling that the body is fighting an infection usually caused by a virus or bacteria.
Normal body temperature is 98.6° F, but it can vary slightly depending on time of day, the season, or a person’s activity level or emotional state. A fever is higher than usual body temperature, ranging from 99.4° F (100.4° when taken rectally) to 104° F or more.
Along with the rise in body temperature, symptoms of a fever include sweating, chills, skin that is hot to the touch and a flushed face. The fever may spike to a high point or remain steady throughout the illness.
What causes a fever?
A fever can be acute (lasting a short time with a definite end) or chronic (occurring repeatedly over time).
The causes of acute fevers can include:
- A viral infection, such as a cold, the flu or chicken pox
- A bacterial infection, such as an earache, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, or meningitis
- Heatstroke
- Side effects from some vaccines or certain medicines
The causes of chronic fevers can include:
- Relapsing infections
- Chronic inflammatory diseases, such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
- Endocrine gland disorders, such as hyperthyroidism
What to do about your child’s fever
Most fevers last only a few days and the illnesses that cause them are usually minor. But in some cases, medical attention should be sought.
For example, when your infant has a fever, she may need medical attention because infants have less mature immune systems that are less able to fight infections than older children and adults.
Call your doctor or healthcare provider if your child:
- Is younger than 6 months and has a fever
- Is older than 6 months and has a fever of 102° F or higher
- Is younger than 2 years and has a fever for more than 12 hours
- Is older than 2 years and has a fever that lasts longer than 2-3 days.
In addition, call your child’s doctor or healthcare provider if your child has one of these symptoms along with a fever:
- Cries when touched or moved, or won’t stop crying
- Has a stiff neck, purple spots, or sensitivity to light
- Has a loss of mental alertness
- Has stomach pain or vomiting that gets worse
- Has difficulty swallowing or is refusing to drink
- Shows signs of dehydration, such as not urinating for four to five hours, dry mouth, no tears when crying, or extreme thirst
- Has pain with urination
- Has bloody stools or worsening diarrhea
- Is pulling at his or her ears or complains of ear pain
- Has recurrent fevers without explanation.
Caring for your child with a fever
In most cases, treating your child’s fever means helping her feel more comfortable until she is no longer sick. To keep your child feeling as well as possible:
- Dress her in lightweight clothing
- Use only one sheet or a light blanket to cover her
- Bathe her in lukewarm water or give her a lukewarm sponge bath
- Give her more liquids than usual
- Avoid giving her caffeine, which can increase dehydration
- Give her acetaminophen (the non-aspirin ingredient in Tylenol)
- Never give aspirin unless directed to by a doctor
- Feed her even though she may not have an appetite, because energy is needed to fight off the infection.