A parent's guide to fevers that are actually worrying
Fever is not an illness. It is the body doing its job. What we care about is how your child looks and acts, not the exact reading.
Parents often arrive apologising for coming in over a fever. Please never apologise for that. But it may help to know what we are actually assessing.
Behaviour beats the thermometer
A child with a temperature of 103°F who is drinking, playing between naps and responding normally is usually less concerning than a child at 100.8°F who is limp and will not take fluids.
Age changes everything
Under three months, any fever needs same-day assessment, and often in an emergency department rather than here. Between three months and three years we look carefully for the source. Older children we can usually manage at home.
Managing it at home
Fluids first, always. Paracetamol or ibuprofen for comfort rather than to chase a number. Lukewarm baths if it helps them settle, and no cold baths or rubbing alcohol.
Come see us if
Your child is under three months old with any fever, is difficult to wake, has a stiff neck or a rash that does not fade under pressure, or has been feverish for more than three days.