How To Deal With Your Child’s Fever

Filed in archive Health , Parenting on June 29, 2010

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It will happen to any parent. At some point your child will have a fever and you will freak out. That's particularly more difficult when your child is still a baby. Most fevers are symptoms of some other illness and your doctor will most likely tell you it's a good sign because it means your child's body is fighting off an infection.

Most children have body temperatures of about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit although that can be as low as 97 degrees or as high as 99 degrees. Fevers among kids are usually higher than those for adults and fluctuate more often throughout the day. A child really has a fever though, when the body temperature reaches 100 degrees.

Children with low-grade fever (below 102 degrees F) can remain active and eat and sleep normally. In some cases, you might observe sweating, headaches and muscle aches, loss of appetite and irritability on the part of your sick child. Your child may also complain of an earache, sore throat or nausea.

If your child is still less than three months old, bring him to the doctor immediately. If this happens after office hours, run to the emergency room. Babies have little capacity to fight off illness because their immune systems are still developing. The fact that they can't tell you yet what they really feel adds more to the problem.

Older children with fevers of 104degrees F or higher should also be rushed to the doctor. This is especially true if the fever has been going on for more than three days in a row. If your child also seems too weak, does not want to eat, has a rash or is having trouble breathing, contact your pediatrician immediately. If you and/or your child recently came from overseas, you must also tell your physician when your kid spikes a fever.