Fever
What is Fever?
Fever is a common symptom that is one of the body’s natural defenses against infections. Generally, a fever is considered to be a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
A child who is running a fever may have a range of symptoms, including increased fussiness and irritability, overall discomfort or fatigue, noticeable warmth to the touch, a flushed appearance, and sweating.
Causes of Fever
Infections
Infections can include the flu, common cold, ear infections, and more serious infections like pneumonia or urinary tract infections (UTI).
Immunizations
Vaccines can sometimes cause a low-grade fever as the body builds immunity.This is a common side effect.
Overdressing
Especially in infants, being dressed too warmly can raise body temperature.
Managing Fever (With Over the Counter Medications)
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
How it works: acetaminophen helps with fevers by inhibiting certain parts of the brain that cause fever.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
How it works: ibuprofen inhibits certain enzymes (COX-1 & COX-2) that form substances which can cause fever.
Ibuprofen should not be administered to infants less than 3 months of age.
If using both acetaminophen and ibuprofen, try alternating between each every 3 hours.
Example schedule:
6:00 AM: Acetaminophen
9:00 AM: Ibuprofen
12:00 PM: Acetaminophen
3:00 PM: Ibuprofen
6:00 PM: Acetaminophen
9:00 PM: Ibuprofen
12:00 AM: Acetaminophen
3:00 AM: Ibuprofen
This schedule allows your child to receive medication every 3 hours so they are comfortable, but it does not exceed maximum dosing for acetaminophen or ibuprofen (medication must be dosed and measured appropriately).