Aches, Pain, Fever (cont.)
When should I seek medical care for a fever?
Any child below the age of 3 months who has a temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) should be seen by a physician or other health-care worker. If a child or adult has a history of cancer, AIDS, or other serious illness, such as heart disease or diabetes, medical care should be sought.
Otherwise, observe the person with the fever. If they appear sick or have symptoms that would suggest a major illness, such as meningitis (headache, stiff neck, confusion, problems staying awake), urinary tract infection (shaking chills, burning with urination), pneumonia (shortness of breath, cough), or any other signs of a serious illness, contact your health-care provider.
On the other hand, if the fever accompanies a simple cold, you can treat the fever as above and be assured that the fever is only a symptom of the illness. This is not to say that you should ignore a fever. If there are other associated symptoms that are bothersome, you should contact your health-care professional.
About 3% of all children between 18 months to 3 years of age will have a seizure (convulsion) with a high fever. Of those with a history of febrile seizure, approximately one-third will have another seizure associated with another febrile episode. Febrile seizures, while frightening to the parents, are not associated with long-term nervous-system side effects. Children used to be prescribed phenobarbital following a febrile seizure as a preventive measure (prophylaxis). This has been shown to be
unbeneficial and possibly harmful, so it is not always recommended.
- Although a fever could be considered any body temperature above the normal 98.6 F (37 C),
medically, a person is not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 F (38.0 C).
- Most fever is beneficial, causes no problems, and helps the body fight off infections. The main reason for treating a fever is to increase comfort.
- Children under 3 months old with a temperature of 100.4 F (38.0 C) or greater should be seen by a health-care
provider. They may be quite ill and not show any signs or symptoms besides a fever. Infants less than 6 weeks old should be seen immediately by their doctor.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol and others) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can be used to treat a fever. Aspirin should not be used in children or adolescents to control fever.
Previous contributing author and editor:
Author: Dennis S. Phillips, MD
Editor: Dennis Lee, MD
Medically reviewed by James Gerace, MD,
Board Certified American Board of Internal Medicine with additional certification by the Subspecialty Board of Pulmonary Disease
References:
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/body-temperature
http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_Fever.htm
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;103/6/e86
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/575603
Webster's New World Medical Dictionary, Third Edition
Last Editorial Review: 7/22/2008
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