by Cindy Hochart, RN, MBA, PMP
Your child has a fever when his or her temperature is at least 1 degree higher than the normal temperature of 98.6 degrees. An increase in temperature is the body’s normal way to fight off sickness.
Most doctors think that a temperature of up to 99.9 degrees is fine and does not need treatment. This increase in temperature helps the body fight off the illness naturally. Teething and being exposed to common viruses (through other kids who have a runny nose) can cause a small increase in temperature, but are not a concern. Sometimes babies and small children can run a low fever after their well-baby shots, too. This is normal.
When your child’s temperature is 100 degrees or higher, the fever should be treated. Here are 4 ways to treat a child’s temperature at home.
- Give them lots to drink, especially water.
- Keep them cool. Putting them in a lukewarm bath can help.
- Try to get them to rest or sleep.
- Give them children’s Advil or Tylenol to reduce a temperature of 100 or more. Follow package instructions for their age. You can switch between Tylenol and Advil. For example, if the directions for Advil is every 4 hours and the directions say Tylenol can be used every 4 hours, you can give Advil at 8 AM, Tylenol at 10 AM, and then repeat the Advil at 12 noon since it’s been 4 hours since the last dose of Advil. Never use aspirin for a child.
When should you take your child with a fever to a doctor?
Take your child to see a doctor if their temperature is 103 degrees or higher or if their temperature lasts longer than 3 days. Also take your child to a doctor if they are throwing up or having loose stools more than 3 times in a day, or if there is any sign of trouble breathing.
You can find this article and more in Reach Up Edition: Fall 2016
