Fever: the body's way of fighting sickness

If your child has a fever but is still playing and eating, your child can be treated at home. But if your child looks sick and doesn't want to play or eat, your child should see the doctor no matter what the thermometer reads. If you aren't sure, call your doctor. Say what your child's temperature is and where you took it - under the tongue, in the armpit, etc.

Age: Birth to 2 months

Temperature over 100.5° Fahrenheit:

Call the doctor now. Don't give any medicine. Fever in babies can be a sign of a bad infection.

Age: 3 months and Older

Temperature 100.5° to 104° Fahrenheit:

If your child is playing and eating, treat the fever at home. Call the doctor if the fever doesn't go away in 2 days or if your baby is less than 6 months old. If your child isn't playing or eating and looks sick, call the doctor.

Temperature 104° Fahrenheit or Higher:

Your child may have a bacterial infection and need antibiotics. Call the doctor.

With All Fevers

Treat the fever with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Make sure your child gets lots of rest and drinks plenty of liquids.

Call the Doctor Now or Go to the Emergency Room When Your Child:

• Is unusually hard to wake up
• Has a blood-like rash under the skin that doesn't fade when it's pressed
• Has a stiff neck and headache, or if a baby's soft spot is swollen
• Has a convulsion that lasts for more than three minutes

The Right Call Every Time. Your Medical Home. Remember you can call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

100,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $2,200 or $.022 per copy. (5/2008)