It’s natural to feel worried when your child has a fever as this is a sign that your child’s fighting an infection. Any fever of 100.4 (taken rectally) in a child less than 1 month old requires an urgent visit to the emergency department. If your child is between 1 month and 3 months old, fever needs to be evaluated urgently.
Feeling warm to the touch, looking flushed, or complaints of feeling hot (or cold if chills are present). If your child is young or nonverbal, you may need to look for related symptoms as listed below.
Symptoms of fever in infants and young children:
Symptoms of fever in older children:
he most common causes of childhood fevers are respiratory viral infections, such as a cold virus. Fevers may develop if a child has an infection in the ears, throat, sinus cavities, bladder, or gastrointestinal system.
The provider at After Hours Kids will get a history and perform a physical exam to determine the source of the fever. If a fever is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotics will be prescribed. If the fever is caused by a viral illness, supportive care is recommended. Supportive care includes giving your child oral doses of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) to reduce the fever. Monitoring your child’s temperature in the days immediately following a fever is also important to make sure their condition continues to improve.