KIDS' FEVERS: WHEN TO WORRY, WHEN TO RELAX?

17/07/2020

Most people's body temperatures change a little bit during the course of the day: It's usually a little lower in the morning and a little higher in the evening and can vary as kids run around, play, and exercise. All kids get a fever from time to time. A fever is a rise in body temperature that goes above a certain level. In general, a fever means a temperature above 100.4ºF (38ºC).

It's important to remember that fever by itself is not an illness — it's usually a sign or symptom of another problem.

Fevers can be caused by a few things, including:

Infection: Most fevers are caused by infection or other illness. A fever helps the body fight infections by stimulating natural defense mechanisms.
Overdressing: Infants, especially newborns, may get fevers if they're overbundled or in a hot environment because they don't regulate their body temperature as well as older kids.
Immunizations: Babies and kids sometimes get a low-grade fever after getting vaccinated.
Teething may cause a slight rise in body temperature, it's probably not the cause if a child's temperature is higher than 100°F (37.8°C).

You might get slightly different numbers depending on how you take your child's temperature – oral (mouth), armpit, ear, forehead, or rectal. Armpit, ear, and forehead temperatures are easier to measure than rectal or oral temperatures, but they are not as accurate. Use a reliable digital thermometer to confirm a fever. It's a fever when a child's temperature is at or above one of these levels:

Measured orally (in the mouth): 100°F (37.8°C)
Measured rectally (in the bottom): 100.4°F (38°C)
Measured in an axillary position (under the arm): 99°F (37.2°C)

All kids get fevers, and in most cases they're completely back to normal within a few days. For older babies and kids, the way they act can be more important than the reading on your thermometer. But if your child is acting ill in a way that concerns you even if there's no fever, always call your doctor for advice.

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