Generally speaking, young children older than three months can be monitored at home as long as their fever doesn’t last more than three days and they have no new symptoms. — TNS
A fever – when the body’s temperature is above 100.4°F (38°C) – is typically a sign that your body is fighting off an infection.
Mayo Clinic family medicine physician Dr Tina Ardon explains what signs to watch for when your child is running a high temperature.
The uncomfortable feeling of being feverish signals that your immune system is hard at work.
“Fever in and of itself does not necessarily need to be treated,” she says.
“I’m going to want to see if that child with a fever who’s not drinking as much, maybe has a symptom they’re more concerned about, such as coughing or vomiting, to make sure we’re not dealing with something more serious.”
She says that babies younger than three months old who are feverish should seek medical care immediately.
For older children, if a fever has not improved in three days or other symptoms have presented, contact your child’s healthcare team.
When it comes to making your child feel comfortable, “... use a cold rag to the forehead; sometimes a cool, tepid bath can just kind of make them feel better,” says Dr Ardon.
“Six months and older, we can use medications like ibuprofen to help our children feel more comfortable and lower fever.
“It is important to make sure you’re dosing that correctly.
“So having a more recent weight can be helpful [the amount of medicine given is according to the child’s weight].
“Feel free to call your paediatrician or family doctor to make sure they can give you the right dosing instructions if you have any questions.” – By Alex Osiadacz/Mayo Clinic News Network/Tribune News Service
