If your child’s body feels warm, they may have what doctors call a "fever". Doctors measure how much "fever" is present with a thermometer. If a thermometer says 100.4º F (38º C), this
means that a child has a "fever" and their body is warmer than it normally should be. It means that a child has an illness most of the time. Sometimes children get "fever" after vaccination
shots. Sometimes their body feels hot because they are playing hard or wearing too many clothes but they are not sick.
"Fever" by itself is not harmful. "Fever" may actually help the body fight infection. However, "fevers" also make most children uncomfortable, and so we often treat "fevers" with a drug
called Acetaminophen. Tylenol® is a common name for acetaminophen.
How your child is acting is more important than the level of the fever. If the child has a "fever" of 103º F, but is happy, playful and eating, the child is probably fine. If your child has a fever of
only 101º F, but is having trouble breathing or is very sleepy or fussy, he or she may be very sick.
Please call your Doctor immediately for any of the following:
• Stiff neck, headache, or confusion
• Chills or rigors
• Excessive sleepiness
• Excessive crying or fussiness
• Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing
• Purple rash
• Your child is less than 3 months old and has a temperature greater than 100.4º F, (38º C)
• Your child’s fever lasts for more than 3 days
• Your child is in pain (even after taking Tylenol®)
• Your child seems sicker, or you are concerned
Source: Enthnomed