Fever Description
A fever means the body temperature is above normal. Your child has a fever if his:
- Rectal temperature is over 100.4°F (38.0°C).
- Oral temperature is over 99.5°F (37.5°C).
- Axillary (armpit) temperature is over 99.0°F (37.2°C).
- Ear (tympanic) temperature is over:
- 100.4°F (38°C) -- if rectal mode
- 99.5°F (37.5°C) -- if oral mode
Tactile (touch) fever is the impression that your child has a fever because he feels hot to the touch. Checking a fever this way is more accurate than we used to think. But if you're going to call the doctor, actually measure the fever.
The body's average temperature when it is measured orally is 98.6°F (37°C), but it normally fluctuates during the day. Mildly increased temperature (100.4 to 101.3°F, or 38 to 38.5°C) can be caused by exercise, excessive clothing, a hot bath, or hot weather. Warm food or drink can also raise the oral temperature. If you suspect such an effect on the temperature of your child, take his temperature again in a half hour.
Causes
Fever is a symptom, not a disease. It is the body's normal response to infections. Fever helps fight infections by turning on the body's immune system. The usual fevers (100 to 104°F, or 37.8 to 40°C), which all children get, are not harmful. Most are caused by viral illnesses; some are caused by bacterial illnesses. Teething does not cause fever.
Call Triangle Pediatrics Immediately If:
- Your child is less than 3 months old.
- The fever is over 105°F (40.6°C).
- Your child looks or acts very sick.
Call Triangle Pediatrics Within 24 Hours If:
- Your child is 3 to 6 months old (unless the fever is due to a DTP shot).
- The fever is between 104 and 105°F (40 and 40.6°C).
- Your child has had a fever more than 24 hours without an obvious cause or location of infection.
- Your child has had a fever for more than 3 days.
- The fever went away for over 24 hours and then returned.
- You have other concerns or questions.
