Treating Symptoms
Infants younger than 4 months old
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Take Temperature
- Rectal temperature is most accurate (you can also take temperature under armpit) – if it’s higher than 99 F check temperature other way
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Call Pediatrician
- If temperature is higher than 100.4 F (bathing child in lukewarm water may assist in bringing down temperature)
- Discuss medication intake with doctor before giving to child
For 4 months or older or immunized
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Take Temperature
- Rectal – children under 4 months check in rectal for accuracy – if temperature is above 100.4 F child has a fever
- Oral – child over 4 months – use pacifier or oral thermometer – if temperature is above 100.4 F child has a fever
- Ear – child 6 months or older – use temporal artery thermometer – if you need very accurate reading check rectal
- Armpit – if temperature is above 100.4 F child has a fever
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Temperature below 102 F
- Treat child only if child is uncomfortable
- Make sure child rests and stays hydrated
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Temperature above 102 F and below 105 F
- Don’t give children aspirin under 18 years old for risk of Reye’s syndrome (brain disease)
- Call pediatrician to check need of bringing child into to see the doctor
- Give formula acetaminophen (Tylenol) – before giving fever-reducing medicine consult pediatrician
- To reduce temperature try bathing or sponging child with lukewarm water
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Keep checking on child
- Don’t let child attend school or daycare until 24 hours after fever
- Call pediatrician if fever lasts longer than 2 days or worsens or if you’re concerned for child well-being
Call Doctor
- Children younger than 3 months and a rectal temperature 100.4 or higher
- Children 3-6 months, has a fever more than 1 day, or temperature higher than 101 F
- Children older than 6 months and younger than 1 year, has a fever more than 1 day, or with a temperature higher than 103 F
- Children 1-2 years with high fever more than 1 day
- All children with temperature higher than 104 F
- Bulging soft spot on head
- Severe diarrhea
- Repeated vomiting
- Dehydration with non-wet diapers, crying without tears, dry mouth or mucous membranes or sunken spot
- Fever triggering seizure
- If you assume the child needs medical attention or child is at a special risk for serious infection
Call 911
- Having a seizure(s)
- Lips / skin blue
- Headache, stiff neck or vomiting
- Limp or unresponsive
- Trouble breathing
