Fever

What is fever?
Fever (also called pyrexia) is defined as body temperature that is higher than normal for each individual. It generally indicates that there is an abnormal process going on within the body.

Fever is a symptom or an indicator that something is not right within the body. A fever can have various causes. It may be due to bacterial or viral infection, an allergic reaction from an allergy, or overheat after prolonged physical activity or sun exposure. Fevers may be treated in a manner previously discussed with your child's physician during well-care checkups. But, call the doctor anytime you are not comfortable with your child's condition, and certainly for any fever that spikes rapidly or persists despite treatment.

What constitutes a fever?
How high the fever is may not be a good indication of how mild or severe the disorder is. For example, influenza may cause a fever of 104, while pneumonia may cause a very low-grade fever or no fever at all.

Although high fevers may bring on convulsions or delirium, generally it is not how high the fever is, but how rapidly the temperature rose that causes a convulsion.

If symptoms of an illness are present:

• a temperature between 99.8^oF - 100.8^oF is considered a low-grade fever.

• a temperature between 101^oF - 102^oF is considered a mild fever.

• between 102^oF - 103^oF is considered a moderate fever.

• anything around 104^oF or above is considered a high fever.

Your child's physician may have different definitions of fever than these, and will provide guidelines for treatment and when to call the physician's office.

What are the signs that indicate fever?
Because a baby or young child may not be able to express how he or she is feeling, parents may look for signs -- outward indications -- that fever is present before using a thermometer. Signs that indicate fever in very young children include:

• flushed face
• hot, dry skin
• low output of urine, and/or dark urine
• not interested in eating
• constipation or diarrhea
• vomiting

Symptoms, specific indications an older child may be able to describe, include:

• headache
• general aching
• nausea (sometimes vomiting)
• constipation (sometimes diarrhea)

• a rectal thermometer for an infant or young child
• an oral thermometer for an older child or teenager
• an ear thermometer for children older than one year (the ear canal in babies is too small to get a proper reading)

Taking a temperature reading with a thermometer directly touching certain areas of the skin, such as under the armpit or in the bend of the elbow, is not recommended because it is not reliable.

Treating fever:
Once you have determined that your child does have fever, you may treat it in a manner that you have previously discussed with the child's physician.

Do not give aspirin to a child who has fever
without first contacting the child's physician.

Aspirin, when given as treatment for viral fevers in children, has been associated with Reye's syndrome, a potentially serious or deadly disorder in children. Therefore, pediatricians and other healthcare providers recommend that aspirin not be used to treat any fever in children.

A tepid bath (water that is neither too cool or too warm to the touch) may reduce the fever, as well as comfort the child. Alcohol rub downs are no longer recommended, at least for younger children. Trust your instincts and call the child's physician for guidance anytime you are uncomfortable with your child's condition, and remember that the child's physician should be contacted for any fever that spikes rapidly or persists despite treatment.