Ask the Nurse: When Should I Be Concerned About My Child’s Fever?

Question:

When Should I Be Concerned About My Child’s Fever?

Answer:

First it is important to know what a true fever is.

A child 0 to 3 months old: A true fever for this age is 100.4˚F. If your infant does have a fever of 100.4˚F or above they should be taken to the ER immediately. It could be life threatening.

A child more than 3 months old: A true fever for this age is 101.0˚F or above. If your child has no other symptoms, it is okay to watch and see if the fever resolves itself. Most of the time it is a viral infection and the fever is helping fight the infection.

However, you will want to give us a call if your child is having other symptoms along with the fever such as:

• Wheezing, breathing rapidly, or struggling to breathe.
• Showing other symptoms like: sore throat, rash, bad cough, ear discharge, or earache.
• Showing signs of dehydration (not urinating as much, no tears when crying, and lethargy).
• Suffering from a serious, chronic medical problem.
• Experiencing pain with urination.
• Experiencing extreme abdominal pain.
• Still suffering from a fever after 72 hours (for children 2 and older) or longer than 24 hours (for children under two).

Treating the fever:
We don’t recommend treating a fever until it is at 102.0˚F or above, or unless your child is uncomfortable. At that point you can use Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (Motrin) depending on the age of your child. Children under 6 months of age should NOT be given Ibuprofen (Motrin).

It’s very important to know your child’s current weight to ensure the proper dose of medicine is being given.

You can check the medication dosage charts on our website and give us a call if you have any questions.

Remember that fevers are not always a bad thing. This is our body’s way to trigger the immune system and help fight the infection. But if you are concerned, give us a call. That is what we are here for.

Shantelle Zimmerman works in the Saratoga Springs Office with Dr. Brian C. McCune.
1305 N. Commerce Drive Suite 230
Saratoga Springs, UT 84045
Work: (801) 407-6500