PEDIATRIC FEVER
In general, parents are apprehensive when their child suffers from a fever. At what point, they wonder, should they be concerned about a child’s fever? To save yourself a trip to the emergency department or your doctor’s office, read on.
What is a fever? The brain regulates body temperature and attempts to maintain a steady balance at approximately 98.6º F. A fever is an increase in body temperature that is part of the body’s natural defense system – it is a means of destroying pathogens that cause illness.
Thus, all fevers do not need to be treated in healthy children. Usually, a temperature of 102º F or less should not be a major concern to a parent. If the child is uncomfortable, the parent may choose to treat the fever.
A true fever emergency occurs when infants under 6 weeks of age register a rectal temperature of 100.4º F or greater. This mandates a trip to your health care provider’s office or the emergency department as this can signify a serious infection in need of treatment.
What are the causes of fever? Fevers are caused by a variety of factors, including bacterial infections, viral infections, and recent immunizations. Teething may raise the body temperature slightly, but usually no higher than 100º F.
How is a fever treated? Treatment in healthy children should be based upon the appearance of the child, not necessarily the temperature they register. A high fever does not mean that the child is more ill – different sources of infections yield different temperature levels. Active, non-ill appearing children who are eating and drinking probably do not have a serious illness and do not warrant a medical evaluation.
If a child appears ill after the fever has been treated with acetaminophen and ibuprofen, a visit to the doctor is in order. Many times, based upon physical examination alone, the source of the fever may be determined. Usually, children do not need a comprehensive evaluation on the first or second office visit. If the fever persists, then a search for the source is necessary.
To alleviate discomfort for a child, parents may treat the fever with specific children’s medications. Be certain to follow the dosages that accompany the medication (and are also available on the Internet). Acetaminophen or Tylenol should be given every 4 hours. Ibuprofen, also known as Motrin or Advil, should be given every 8 hours. The two medications are safe to use together. In addition, be sure to keep you child well hydrated.
Choose one method of obtaining the child’s temperature and stick with that in order to have a consistent means of comparison. I recommend using a digital oral or rectal thermometer. Small children should have their temperature taken rectally – remember this temperature is usually 1º higher than an oral temperature. Personally, I have found ear probe thermometers to be inaccurate and inconsistent, thus, I do not recommend using them. Most importantly, if you have a concern about your child’s health and temperature, consult your medical provider.
