Fever - Seattle Children's

Sinus Infection. This is a problem caused by a cold. The main symptom is the return of fever after it has been gone for a few days. The sinus ... Skiptonavigationmenu Skiptocontent HighPriorityAlert COVID-19:VaccineInformation,VisitorInformationandWhattoExpect Closealert InformationalAlert Learnaboutprogressonhealthequityandanti-racismeffortsinSeattleChildren’sfirstquarterlyreport. Closealert Home Conditions AllConditions(AtoZ) Fever Isthisyourchild'ssymptom?AnabnormalhighbodytemperatureFeveristheonlysymptom.Yourchildhasatruefeverif:Rectal(Bottom),EarorForeheadtemperature:100.4°F(38.0°C)orhigherOral(Mouth)temperature:100°F(37.8°C)orhigherUnderthearm(Armpit)temperature:99°F(37.2°C)orhigherCaution:Eartemperaturesarenotaccuratebefore6monthsofageCaution:Foreheadtemperaturesmustbedigital.Foreheadstripsarenotaccurate.CausesofFeverOverview.Almostallfeversarecausedbyanewinfection.Virusescause10timesmoreinfectionsthanbacteria.Thenumberofgermsthatcauseaninfectionareinthehundreds.Onlyafewcommononeswillbelisted.ViralInfections.Colds,fluandotherviralinfectionsarethemostcommoncause.Fevermaybetheonlysymptomforthefirst24hours.Thestartofviralsymptoms(runnynose,cough,loosestools)isoftendelayed.Roseolaisthemostextremeexample.Fevermaybetheonlysymptomfor2or3days.Thenarashappears.BacterialInfections.Abladderinfectionisthemostcommoncauseofsilentfeveringirls.Strepthroatisalsoacommoncauseofunexplainedfever.SinusInfection.Thisisaproblemcausedbyacold.Themainsymptomisthereturnoffeverafterithasbeengoneforafewdays.Thesinuscongestionalsochangestosinuspain.Colorofnasaldischargeisnotveryhelpfulformakingthisdiagnosis.VaccineFever.Feverwithmostvaccinesbeginswithin12hours.Itlasts2to3days.Thisisnormalandharmless.Itmeansthevaccineisworking.NewbornFever(Serious).Feverthatoccursduringthefirst3monthsoflifecanbeserious.Allofthesebabiesneedtobeseenassoonaspossible.Thefevermaybeduetosepsis(abloodstreaminfection).Bacterialinfectionsinthisagegroupcangetworsequickly.Theyneedrapidtreatment.Meningitis(VerySerious).Abacterialinfectionofthemembranethatcoversthespinalcordandbrain.Themainsymptomsareastiffneck,headacheandconfusion.Youngerchildrenarelethargicorsoirritablethattheycan'tbeconsoled.Ifnottreatedearly,cansufferbraindamage.Overheated.Thefeverisusuallylowgrade.Canoccurduringheatwavesorfrombeingoverdressed.Thetempbecomesnormalinafewhoursaftermovingtoacoolerplace.Canalsooccurduringhardexercise.Fevergoesawayquicklywithrestanddrinkingextrafluids.NotDuetoTeething.Researchshowsthat"gettingteeth"doesnotcausefevers.FeverandCryingFeveronitsownshouldn'tcausemuchcrying.Frequentcryinginachildwithfeveriscausedbypainuntilprovenotherwise.Hiddencausescanbeearinfections,kidneyinfections,sorethroatsandmeningitis.Roseola:ClassicCauseofUnexplainedFeverinYoungChildrenMostchildrengetRoseolabetween6monthsand3yearsofage.Cause:humanherpesvirus6Rash:pink,small,flatspotsonthechestandstomach.Rashisthesameonbothsidesofthebody.Thenspreadstotheface.Classicfeature:2or3daysofhighfeverwithoutarashorothersymptoms.Therashstarts12to24hoursafterthefevergoesaway.Therashlasts1to3days.Bythetimetherashappears,thechildfeelsfine.NormalTemperatureRangeRectal.Areadingof98.6°F(37°C)isjusttheaveragerectaltemp.Anormallowcanbe96.8°F(36°C)inthemorning.Itcanchangetoahighof100.3°F(37.9°C)lateintheday.Thisisanormalrange.Bymouth.Areadingof97.6°F(36.5°C)isjusttheaveragemouthtemp.Anormallowcanbe95.8°F(35.5°C)inthemorning.Itcanchangetoahighof99.9°F(37.7°C)lateintheday.Thisisanormalrange. WhentoCallforFever Call911NowNotmovingortooweaktostandCan'twakeupSeveretroublebreathing(strugglingforeachbreath;canbarelyspeakorcry)Purpleorblood-coloredspotsordotsonskinYouthinkyourchildhasalife-threateningemergency CallDoctororSeekCareNowTroublebreathing,butnotsevereGreattroubleswallowingfluidsorspitFeverinbabylessthan12weeksold.Caution:doNOTgiveyourbabyanyfevermedicinebeforebeingseen.Feverover104°F(40°C)Shakingchills(shivering)lastingmorethan30minutesNonstopcryingorcrieswhentouchedormovedWon'tmoveanarmorlegnormallyDehydrationsuspected.Nourineinmorethan8hours,darkurine,verydrymouthandnotears.PainorburningwhenpassingurineWeakimmunesystem.Examplesare:sicklecelldisease,HIV,cancer,organtransplant,takingoralsteroids.YourchildlooksoractsverysickYouthinkyourchildneedstobeseen,andtheproblemisurgent ContactDoctorWithin24HoursAge3-6monthsoldwithfeverAge6-24monthsoldwithfeverthatlastsmorethan24hours.Therearenoothersymptoms(suchascoughordiarrhea).Feverlastsmorethan3daysFeverreturnsafterbeinggonemorethan24hoursRecenttraveloutsidethecountrytohighriskareaYouthinkyourchildneedstobeseen,buttheproblemisnoturgent ContactDoctorDuringOfficeHoursYouhaveotherquestionsorconcerns SelfCareatHomeFeverwithnoothersymptomsandyourchildactsmildlyill SeattleChildren'sUrgentCareLocations Ifyourchild’sillnessorinjuryislife-threatening,call911. Bellevue Everett FederalWay Seattle CareAdviceforFeverWhatYouShouldKnowAboutFever:Havingafevermeansyourchildhasanewinfection.It'smostlikelycausedbyavirus.Youmaynotknowthecauseofthefeveruntilothersymptomsdevelop.Thismaytake24hours.Mostfeversaregoodforsickchildren.Theyhelpthebodyfightinfection.Usetherangesbelowtohelpputyourchild'sleveloffeverintoperspective:100°-102°F(37.8°-39°C)Lowgradefever:helpful,goodrange.Don'ttreat.102°-104°F(39-40°C)Averagefever:helpful.Treatifcausesdiscomfort.Over104°F(40°C)Highfever:causesdiscomfort,butharmless.Alwaystreat.Over106°F(41.1°C)Veryhighfever:importanttobringitdown.Raretogothishigh.Over108°F(42.3°C)Dangerousfever:feveritselfcanbeharmful.TreatmentforAllFevers-ExtraFluidsFluidsalonecanlowerthefever.Reason:beingwell-hydratedhelpsthebodygiveoffheatthroughtheskin.Offeryourchildextrawaterorotherfluidsbymouth.Coldfluidsarebetter.Until6monthsold,onlygiveextraformulaorbreastmilk.Forallchildren,dressin1layeroflightweightclothing,unlessshivering.Reason:alsohelpsheatlossfromtheskin.Caution:ifababyunder1yearhasafever,neveroverdressorbundleup.Reason:babiescangetover-heatedmoreeasilythanolderchildren.Forfevers100°-102°F(37.8°-39°C),fevermedsarerarelyneeded.Feversofthisleveldon'tcausediscomfort.Theydohelpthebodyfighttheinfection.Exception:ifyoufeelyourchildalsohaspain,treatit.FeverMedicine:Feversonlyneedtobetreatedwithmedicineiftheycausediscomfort.Mostoften,thatmeansfeversabove102°F(39°C).Alsouseforshivering(shakingchills).Shiveringmeansthefeverisgoingup.Forfeversabove102°F(39°C),giveanacetaminophenproduct(suchasTylenol).Anotherchoiceisanibuprofenproduct(suchasAdvil).Goaloftreatment:bringthetemperaturedowntoacomfortablelevel.Mostoften,thefevermedslowerthefeverby2°to3°F(1-1.5°C).Theydonotbringitdowntonormal.Ittakes1or2hourstoseetheeffect.Donotuseaspirin.Reason:riskofReyesyndrome,ararebutseriousbraindisease.Donotusebothacetaminophenandibuprofentogether.Reason:notneededandariskofgivingtoomuch.SpongingwithLukewarmWater:Note:spongingisanoptionforhighfevers,butnotrequired.Itisrarelyneeded.WhentoUse:feverabove104°F(40°C)ANDdoesn'tcomedownwithfevermeds.Alwaysgivethefevermedicineatleastanhourtoworkbeforesponging.HowtoSponge:uselukewarmwater(85-90°F)(29.4-32.2°C).Spongefor20-30minutes.Ifyourchildshiversorbecomescold,stopsponging.Otheroption:youcanalsomakethewaterwarmer.Caution:donotuserubbingalcohol.Reason:cancauseacoma.ReturntoSchool:Yourchildcanreturntoschoolafterthefeverisgone.Yourchildshouldfeelwellenoughtojoininnormalactivities.WhattoExpect:Mostfeverswithviralillnessesrangebetween101°and104°F(38.4°and40°C).Theymaylastfor2or3days.Theyarenotharmful.CallYourDoctorIf:YourchildlooksoractsverysickAnyserioussymptomsoccursuchastroublebreathingFevergoesabove104°F(40°C)Anyfeveroccursiflessthan12weeksoldFeverwithoutothersymptomslastsmorethan24hours(ifagelessthan2years)Feverlastsmorethan3days(72hours)YouthinkyourchildneedstobeseenYourchildbecomesworseAndremember,contactyourdoctorifyourchilddevelopsanyofthe'CallYourDoctor'symptoms.Disclaimer:thishealthinformationisforeducationalpurposesonly.You,thereader,assumefullresponsibilityforhowyouchoosetouseit. LastReviewed:01/01/2022 LastRevised:10/21/2021 Copyright2000-2021.SchmittPediatricGuidelinesLLC. Shouldyourchildseeadoctor? Findoutbyselectingyourchild'ssymptomorhealthconditioninthelistbelow: SelectaSymptom Symptoms AbdominalPain-Female AbdominalPain-Male Acne AnimalorHumanBite Antibiotics:WhenDoTheyHelp? AnxietyAttack ArmInjury ArmPain AsthmaAttack Athlete'sFoot BackPain BedBugBite BeeorYellowJacketSting BehavioralHealthProblems Blisters Boil Bottle-Feeding(Formula)Questions BreastSymptoms-Child BreastSymptoms-Teen Breast-FeedingQuestions Breath-holdingSpell BreathingTrouble Bronchiolitis-RSV BruisesandCuts Burn ChestPain Chickenpox CircumcisionProblems Colds Colds(0-12Months) Constipation Cough Cough(0-12Months) Coughs:MedsorHomeRemedies? COVID-19DiagnosedorSuspected COVID-19Exposure,ButNoSymptoms COVID-19orInfluenza-HowtoTell CrackedorDrySkin CradleCap Croup CryingBaby-Before3MonthsOld CryingChild-3MonthsandOlder Cut,Scrape,orBruise Depression DiaperRash Diarrhea Diarrhea(0-12Months) DiarrheaDiseasesFromTravel Dizziness DrinkingFluids-Decreased DrySkin Ear-Congestion Ear-Discharge Ear-PullingAtorRubbing Ear-Swimmer's EarInfectionQuestions EarInjury EarPiercingSymptoms Earache EarwaxBuildup EbolaExposure Eczema EmergencySymptomsNottoMiss Eye-Allergy Eye-ForeignObject Eye-PusorDischarge Eye-RedWithoutPus EyeInjury EyeSwelling Fainting Fever Fever-HowtoTakeaTemperature(0-12Months) Fever-HowtoTaketheTemperature Fever-MythsVersusFacts Fever(0-12Months) FifthDisease-ViralRash FingerInjury FireAntSting Flu FluidIntakeDecreased FoodAllergy ForeskinCareQuestions Frostbite GenitalInjury-Female GenitalInjury-Male HairLoss Hand-Foot-and-MouthDisease-ViralRash HayFever HeadInjury HeadLice Headache HeatExposureandReactions HeatRash Hives Hoarseness HumanorAnimalBite ImmunizationReactions Impetigo-InfectedSores InfectionExposureQuestions Influenza-Seasonal InfluenzaExposure InsectBite JaundicedNewborn JellyfishSting JockItch LegInjury LegPain Lice-Head LymphNodes-Swollen Medicine-RefusaltoTake MenstrualCramps MenstrualPeriod-MissedorLate MentalHealthProblems Molluscum-Wart MosquitoBite Mosquito-BorneDiseasesfromTravel MotionSickness MouthInjury MouthUlcers NeckPainorStiffness NewbornAppearanceQuestions NewbornIllness-HowtoRecognize NewbornRashesandBirthmarks NewbornReflexesandBehavior NoseAllergy(HayFever) NoseInjury Nosebleed PanicAttack Penis-ScrotumSymptoms-Child Penis-ScrotumSymptoms-Teen Pinworms PoisonIvy-Oak-Sumac PunctureWound RashorRedness-Localized RashorRedness-Widespread Reflux(SpittingUp) Ringworm Roseola-ViralRash RSV-Bronchiolitis Scabies-ItchMiteRash ScorpionSting Scrape SexuallyTransmittedInfections SinusPainorCongestion SkinForeignObject SkinInjury SkinLump SliverorSplinter SolidFoods(BabyFoods) SoreThroat SpiderBite SpittingUp-Reflux STIExposure StomachPain-Female StomachPain-Male Stools-BloodIn Stools-UnusualColor StrepThroatExposure StrepThroatInfection Sty Sunburn SutureQuestions SwallowedForeignObject SwallowedHarmlessSubstance Swimmer'sItch-LakesandOceans TearDuct-Blocked Teething Thrush TickBite ToeInjury Toenail-Ingrown ToothInjury Toothache TroubleBreathing UmbilicalCordSymptoms UrinaryTractInfection-Female UrinationPain-Female UrinationPain-Male VaginalBleeding VaginalSymptoms-Child VaginalSymptoms-Teen Vomiting(0-12Months) VomitingWithDiarrhea VomitingWithoutDiarrhea Warts WeaknessandFatigue Wheezing(OtherThanAsthma) WoundInfection AllSymptoms SeattleChildren’scomplieswithapplicablefederalandothercivilrightslawsanddoesnotdiscriminate,excludepeopleortreatthemdifferentlybasedonrace,color,religion(creed),sex,genderidentityorexpression,sexualorientation,nationalorigin(ancestry),age,disability,oranyotherstatusprotectedbyapplicablefederal,stateorlocallaw.Financialassistanceformedicallynecessaryservicesisbasedonfamilyincomeandhospitalresourcesandisprovidedtochildrenunderage21whoseprimaryresidenceisinWashington,Alaska,MontanaorIdaho. 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