Fevers and taking your child's temperature

Parents often have questions and concerns about fevers. A child's fever tells us only that the child is ill and that the body is fighting an illness with a fever.

A high fever can be from a virus or bacteria. Most children tolerate a high fever just fine. Fever can be controlled with medications so that the child feels well enough to eat, drink and rest.

Most illnesses with fever clear up on their own in one to two days. However, you should call a doctor if your child has a fever and is younger than 3 months old, has a temperature greater than 105 F, or if the fever lasts more than three days.

Checking for fever is not a difficult task. Pediatricians prefer that parents use a digital thermometer. Most models cost between $5 and $8 at pharmacies. Ear or skin thermometers are not reliable and are not recommended. For children younger than 2, the best way to obtain a reliable temperature is in the rectum. Older children can hold a thermometer under the tongue, or least preferred, under the armpit. The temperature the thermometer reads is the correct number. You should not add or subtract degrees based on the method of how the temperature was checked.

More information on fevers and taking temperatures is available at Westbrook Pediatrics. Ask for a handout on your next visit.