High infant temperature

Fever (0-12 Months)

Is this your child's symptom?

An abnormal high body temperature
Fever is the only symptom. Your child has a true fever if:
Rectal (bottom), Ear or Forehead temperature: 100.4° F (38.0° C) or higher
Under the arm (armpit) temperature: 99° F (37.2° C) or higher
Caution: Ear temperatures are not accurate before 6 months of age
Caution: Forehead temperatures must be digital. Forehead strips are not accurate.

Causes of Fever

Overview. Almost all fevers are caused by a new infection. Viruses cause 10 times more infections than bacteria. The number of germs that cause an infection are in the hundreds. Only a few common ones will be listed.
Viral Infections. Colds, flu and other viral infections are the most common cause. Fever may be the only symptom for the first 24 hours. The start of viral symptoms (runny nose, cough, loose stools) is often delayed. Roseola is the most extreme example. Fever may be the only symptom for 3 to 5 days. Then a rash appears.
Bacterial Infections. A bladder infection is the most common cause of silent fever in girls.
Vaccine Fever. Fever with most vaccines begins within 12 hours. It lasts 2 to 3 days. This is normal and harmless. It means the vaccine is working.
Newborn Fever (Serious). Fever that occurs during the first 3 months of life can be serious. All of these babies need to be seen as soon as possible. The fever may be due to sepsis (a bloodstream infection). Bacterial infections in this age group can get worse quickly. They need rapid treatment.
Meningitis (Very Serious). A bacterial infection of the membrane that covers the spinal cord and brain. The main symptoms are a stiff neck, headache and confusion. Younger children are lethargic or so irritable that they can't be consoled. If not treated early, can suffer brain damage.
Overheated. The fever is usually low grade. Can occur during heat waves or from being overdressed. The temp becomes normal in a few hours after moving to a cooler place. Fever goes away quickly with rest and drinking extra fluids.
Not Due to Teething. Research shows that "getting teeth" does not cause fevers.

Fever and Crying

Fever on its own shouldn't cause much crying.
Frequent crying in a child with fever is caused by pain until proven otherwise.
Hidden causes can be ear infections, kidney infections, sore throats and meningitis.

Normal Temperature Range

Rectal. A reading of 98.6° F (37° C) is just the average rectal temp. A normal low can be 96.8° F (36° C) in the morning. It can change to a high of 100.3° F (37.9° C) late in the day. This is a normal range.

When to Call for Fever (0-12 Months)

Call 911 Now

Not moving
Can't wake up
Severe trouble breathing (struggling for each breath; can barely speak or cry)
Purple or blood-colored spots or dots on skin
You think your child has a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

Trouble breathing, but not severe
Great trouble swallowing fluids or spit
Fever in baby less than 12 weeks old. Caution: Do NOT give your baby any fever medicine before being seen.
Fever over 104° F (40° C)
Shaking chills (shivering) lasting more than 30 minutes
Nonstop crying or cries when touched or moved
Won't move an arm or leg normally
Dehydration suspected. No urine in over 8 hours, dark urine, very dry mouth and no tears.
Weak immune system. Examples are sickle cell disease, HIV, cancer, organ transplant, taking oral steroids.
Your child looks or acts very sick
You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

Age 3-6 months old with fever
Age 6-12 months old with fever that lasts more than 24 hours. There are no other symptoms (such as cough or diarrhea).
Fever lasts more than 3 days
Fever returns after gone for more than 24 hours
You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

Fever with no other symptoms and your child acts mildly ill

Seattle Children's Urgent Care Locations

If your child’s illness or injury is life-threatening, call 911.

Bellevue
Everett
Federal Way
Seattle

Care Advice for Fever

What You Should Know About Fever:
- Having a fever means your child has a new infection.
- It's most likely caused by a virus.
- You may not know the cause of the fever until other symptoms develop. This may take 24 hours.
- For infants more than 3 months old, most fevers are good for sick children. They help the body fight infection.
- Use the ranges below to help put your child's level of fever into perspective:
- 100° - 102° F (37.8° - 39° C) Low grade fever: helpful, good range. Don't treat.
- 102° - 104° F (39 - 40° C) Average fever: helpful. Treat if causes discomfort.
- Over 104° F (40° C) High fever: causes discomfort, but harmless. Always treat.
- Over 106° F (41.1° C) Very high fever: important to bring it down. Rare to go this high.
- Over 108° F (42.3° C) Dangerous fever: fever itself can be harmful.
Treatment for All Fevers - Extra Fluids:
- Fluids alone can lower the fever. Reason: being well hydrated helps the body give off heat through the skin.
- For shivering (or the chills), give your child a blanket. Make them comfortable.
- Offer your child extra water or other fluids by mouth. Cold fluids are better. Until 6 months old, only give extra formula or breastmilk.
- For all children, dress in 1 layer of light weight clothing, unless shivering. Reason: also helps heat loss from the skin.
- For shivering (or the chills), give your child a blanket. Make them comfortable.
- Caution: if a baby under 1 year has a fever, never overdress or bundle up. Reason: Babies can get over-heated more easily than older children.
Fever Medicine:
- Caution: Do not give a baby under 3 months any fever medicine. Most of these babies will need to be seen.
- For fevers 100°-102° F (37.8° - 39°C), fever meds are not needed. Reason: fevers in this range help the body fight the infection. Fevers turn on the body's imune system. Fevers don't cause any discomfort.
Give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil) if over 6 months old.
Goal of treatment: keep the fever at a helpful level. Most often, the fever meds lower the fever by 2° to 3° F (1 - 1. 5° C). They do not bring it down to normal. It takes 1 or 2 hours to see the effect.
Do not use aspirin. Reason: Risk of Reye syndrome, a rare but serious brain disease.
Do not use both acetaminophen and ibuprofen together. Reason: Not needed and a risk of giving too much.
Pain: fever does not cause pain. If your child also has pain, it's from the infection. It may be a sore throat or muscle pain. Treat the pain, if it's more than mild.
Return to Child Care:
- Your child can return to child care after the fever is gone. Your child should feel well enough to join in normal activities.
What to Expect:
- Most fevers with viral illnesses range between 101° and 104° F (38.4° and 40° C).
- They may last for 2 or 3 days.
- They are not harmful.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Your child looks or acts very sick
- Any serious symptoms occur such as trouble breathing
- Fever goes above 104° F (40° C)
- Any fever occurs if less than 12 weeks old
- Fever without other symptoms lasts more than 24 hours
- Fever lasts more than 3 days (72 hours)
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child develops any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

Last Reviewed: 11/20/2022

Last Revised: 09/18/2022

Fevers (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth

All kids get a fever from time to time. A fever itself usually causes no harm and can actually be a good thing — it's often a sign that the body is fighting an infection.

But when your child wakes in the middle of the night flushed, hot, and sweaty, it's easy to be unsure of what to do next. Should you get out the thermometer? Call the doctor?

Here's more about fevers, including when to contact your doctor.

What Is a Fever?

Fever happens when the body's internal "thermostat" raises the body temperature above its normal level. This thermostat is found in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus knows what temperature your body should be (usually around 98. 6°F/37°C) and will send messages to your body to keep it that way.

Most people's body temperatures change a little bit during the course of the day: It's usually a little lower in the morning and a little higher in the evening and can vary as kids run around, play, and exercise.

Sometimes, though, the hypothalamus will "reset" the body to a higher temperature in response to an infection, illness, or some other cause. Why? Researchers believe that turning up the heat is a way for the body to fight the germs that cause infections, making it a less comfortable place for them.

What Causes Fevers?

It's important to remember that fever by itself is not an illness — it's usually a sign or symptom of another problem.

Fevers can be caused by a few things, including:

Infection: Most fevers are caused by infection or other illness. A fever helps the body fight infections by stimulating natural defense mechanisms.

Overdressing: Infants, especially newborns, may get fevers if they're overbundled or in a hot environment because they don't regulate their body temperature as well as older kids. But because fevers in newborns can indicate a serious infection, even infants who are overdressed must be checked by a doctor if they have a fever.

Immunizations: Babies and kids sometimes get a low-grade fever after getting vaccinated.

Although teething may cause a slight rise in body temperature, it's probably not the cause if a child's temperature is higher than 100°F (37.8°C).

When Is a Fever a Sign of Something Serious?

In healthy kids, not all fevers need to be treated. High fever, though, can make a child uncomfortable and make problems (such as dehydration) worse.

Doctors decide on whether to treat a fever by considering both the temperature and a child's overall condition.

Kids whose temperatures are lower than 102°F (38.9°C) often don't need medicine unless they're uncomfortable. There's one important exception: If an infant 3 months or younger has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, call your doctor or go to the emergency department immediately. Even a slight fever can be a sign of a potentially serious infection in very young babies.

If your child is between 3 months and 3 years old and has a fever of 102.2°F (39°C) or higher, call to see if your doctor needs to see your child. For older kids, take behavior and activity level into account. Watching how your child behaves will give you a pretty good idea of whether a minor illness is the cause or if your child should be seen by a doctor.

The illness is probably not serious if your child:

is still interested in playing
is eating and drinking well
is alert and smiling at you
has a normal skin color
looks well when his or her temperature comes down

And don't worry too much about a child with a fever who doesn't want to eat. This is very common with infections that cause fever. For kids who still drink and urinate (pee) normally, not eating as much as usual is OK.

Is it a Fever?

A gentle kiss on the forehead or a hand placed lightly on the skin is often enough to give you a hint that your child has a fever. However, this method of taking a temperature (called tactile temperature) won't give an accurate measurement.

Use a reliable digital thermometer to confirm a fever. It's a fever when a child's temperature is at or above one of these levels:

measured orally (in the mouth): 100°F (37.8°C)
measured rectally (in the bottom): 100.4°F (38°C)
measured in an axillary position (under the arm): 99°F (37.2°C)

But how high a fever is doesn't tell you much about how sick your child is. A simple cold or other viral infection can sometimes cause a rather high fever (in the 102°–104°F/38.9°–40°C range), but this doesn't usually mean there's a serious problem. In fact, a serious infection, especially in infants, might cause no fever or even a low body temperature (below 97°F or 36.1°C).

Because fevers can rise and fall, a child might have chills as the body's temperature begins to rise. The child may sweat to release extra heat as the temperature starts to drop.

Sometimes kids with a fever breathe faster than usual and may have a faster heart rate. Call the doctor if your child has trouble breathing, is breathing faster than normal, or is still breathing fast after the fever comes down.

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How Can I Help My Child Feel Better?

Again, not all fevers need to be treated. In most cases, a fever should be treated only if it's causing a child discomfort.

Here are ways to ease symptoms that often accompany a fever:

Medicines

If your child is fussy or uncomfortable, you can give acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on the package recommendations for age or weight. (Unless instructed by a doctor, never give aspirin to a child due to its association with Reye syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.) If you don't know the recommended dose or your child is younger than 2 years old, call the doctor to find out how much to give.

Infants younger than 2 months old should not be given any medicine for fever without being checked by a doctor. If your child has any medical problems, check with the doctor to see which medicine is best to use. Remember that fever medicine can temporarily bring a temperature down, but usually won't return it to normal — and it won't treat the underlying reason for the fever.

Home Comfort Measures

Dress your child in lightweight clothing and cover with a light sheet or blanket. Overdressing and overbundling can prevent body heat from escaping and can cause the temperature to rise.

Make sure your child's bedroom is a comfortable temperature — not too hot or too cold.

While some parents use lukewarm sponge baths to lower fever, this method only helps temporarily, if at all. In fact, sponge baths can make kids uncomfortable. Never use rubbing alcohol (it can cause poisoning when absorbed through the skin) or ice packs/cold baths (they can cause chills that can raise body temperature).

Food and Drinks

Offer plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration because fevers make kids lose fluids more rapidly than usual. Water, soup, ice pops, and flavored gelatin are all good choices. Avoid drinks with caffeine, including colas and tea, because they can make dehydration worse by increasing urination (peeing).

If your child also is vomiting and/or has diarrhea, ask the doctor if you should give an electrolyte (rehydration) solution made especially for kids. You can find these at drugstores and supermarkets. Don't offer sports drinks — they're not made for younger children and the added sugars can make diarrhea worse. Also, limit your child's intake of fruits and apple juice.

In general, let kids eat what they want (in reasonable amounts), but don't force it if they don't feel like it.

Taking it Easy

Make sure your child gets plenty of rest. Staying in bed all day isn't necessary, but a sick child should take it easy.

It's best to keep a child with a fever home from school or childcare. Most doctors feel that it's safe to return when the temperature has been normal for 24 hours.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

The exact temperature that should trigger a call to the doctor depends on a child's age, the illness, and whether there are other symptoms with the fever.

Call your doctor if you have an:

infant younger than 3 months old with a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
older child with a temperature of higher than 102.2°F (39°C)

Also call if an older child has a fever of lower than 102.2°F (39°C) but also:

refuses fluids or seems too ill to drink adequately
has lasting diarrhea or repeated vomiting
has any signs of dehydration (peeing less than usual, not having tears when crying, less alert and less active than usual)
has a specific complaint (like a sore throat or earache)
still has a fever after 24 hours (in kids younger than 2 years old) or 72 hours (in kids 2 years or older)
is getting fevers a lot, even if they only last a few hours each night
has a chronic medical problem, such as heart disease, cancer, lupus, or sickle cell disease
has a rash
has pain while peeing

Get emergency care if your child shows any of these signs:

crying that won't stop
extreme irritability or fussiness
sluggishness and trouble waking up
a rash or purple spots that look like bruises on the skin (that were not there before your child got sick)
blue lips, tongue, or nails
infant's soft spot on the head seems to be bulging out or sunken in
stiff neck
severe headache
limpness or refusal to move
trouble breathing that doesn't get better when the nose is cleared
leaning forward and drooling
seizure
moderate to severe belly pain

Also, ask if your doctor has specific guidelines on when to call about a fever.

What Else Should I Know?

All kids get fevers, and in most cases they're completely back to normal within a few days. For older babies and kids, the way they act can be more important than the reading on your thermometer. Everyone gets a little cranky when they have a fever. This is normal and should be expected.

But if you're ever in doubt about what to do or what a fever might mean, or if your child is acting ill in a way that concerns you even if there's no fever, always call your doctor for advice.

Reviewed by: Joanne Murren-Boezem, MD

Date reviewed: September 2018

High temperature in a child: causes of hyperthermia in children

Why a high temperature appears in children

Hyperthermia is the main, most common symptom of various diseases. Hyperthermia in children - temperature above 37.5. It is considered normal - 35.5-37.4 ° C in the absence of general complaints.

Hyperthermia is the body's defense mechanism to help fight infections. So the body creates uncomfortable conditions for microbes (virus, bacteria), significantly reducing their harmful effects. With the appearance of heat, a large number of active protective components are produced - interferon, the formation of antibodies, and the activation of immunity. Body temperature up to 38.5°C in case of acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) against the background of an unimpaired general condition of the child - is normal, it does not need to be knocked down . Only if in the anamnesis of life (earlier) an episode of convulsions was observed against the background of high temperature (38-39 ° C), then knocking down should begin with 37.5-37.7 ° C.

Causes of high temperature in a child

In many diseases, a high temperature occurs in a child - the causes of are different. Hyperthermia is a manifestation of:

inflammatory and purulent processes;
food poisoning;
teething;
stressful situations;
disorders of the central nervous system, including brain injuries;
overheating of the body.

Main symptoms of hyperthermia:

weakness, drowsiness, pallor;
rapid breathing, palpitations;
loss of consciousness;
dizziness;
convulsions;
excessive sweating.

Fever may be the first symptom of diseases:

bacterial - otitis media, tonsillitis, pneumonia and others;
viral - measles, rubella, mumps, influenza, etc.

Other signs - rash, swollen lymph nodes - appear after a couple of days.

What to do if the child has a temperature

The child has a high temperature for several days. How to shoot down fever? - The main question that worries parents. Many begin to get nervous, resort to active treatment with a variety of medicines, folk methods - wiping with vinegar, alcohol. Such actions can have serious consequences, up to burns to the body. What actions can not be resorted to at a temperature?

Use methods that cause fever - alcohol compresses, mustard plasters, take a hot shower, bath.
Bring down the temperature below 38.5°C. The main condition is that the child normally tolerates heat.
Heat the air in the room (limit 18-22 degrees).
Use aspirin, analgin, nimesulide, mefenamic acid - drugs can cause a dangerous complication - Reye's syndrome.

It is useful to give a child a lot of fluids - warm unsweetened fruit tea, milk, honey, herbal decoctions, mineral water, fruit drinks, compotes are useful. It is recommended to use the following antipyretics - paracetamol, ibuprofen. The antipyretic effect will be for 45 minutes-1.5 hours. It is recommended for kids to use candles, for older ones - to give syrup. You should regularly ventilate the room, humidify the air.

Seek medical attention if:

fever is accompanied by accompanying symptoms - pale skin, nausea, vomiting, febrile convulsions, rash, chills;
there are signs of dehydration - dry skin, mucous membranes, dry tongue, lack of urine;
delusions, hallucinations appear;
there are congenital heart defects, cardiac arrhythmias;
the baby is less than a year old.

High fever - seek medical attention from Fortis

Temperature rises above 38°C, persists for more than three days? It is necessary to call a doctor to determine the underlying cause of the fever. High temperature in children - the first manifestation of the disease. The pediatrician will make a diagnosis, prescribe treatment to reduce the child's temperature.

Qualified assistance is provided by employees of the Fortis Medical Health Center. An experienced pediatrician will conduct an examination, prescribe antipyretic drugs, taking into account the individual characteristics of the child. Get more information, how to get rid of fever in a child , using the feedback form. You can find the schedule of doctor's appointments conveniently by clicking on the link. We are waiting for you: Monday-Friday - 8.00-21.00, Saturday - 8.00-18.00.

Ask for help at the medical health center Fortis - we will be happy to help!

Child's temperature - what to do? — Stepan Beglaryan

If a child has a high body temperature, then many questions arise. Since the causes of fever can vary, the most common questions that can be answered before going to the doctor should be discussed.

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What temperature should be brought down?

You definitely need to bring down the body temperature of 38.5 * C - at any age.

In children under 2-3 years old, you can bring down the temperature and 38.0 * C. However, if a small child behaves normally, is active at a temperature of about 38.2, you can expect an increase to 38.5 * C, and only then knock down.

On the other hand, if the body temperature around 37.7 C leads to significant discomfort, it should also be normalized with drugs.

In the evening before going to bed, the temperature over 37.5-37.7 can also be brought down. Unless you wake up every couple of hours and measure the child's temperature, then yes, you can expect 38.5 * C.

One more thing. If earlier a child had febrile convulsions against the background of a high fever of over 38. 5, then until middle school age, the temperature should be reduced from 38.0 * C.

Antipyretics

Do not stray too far from ibuprofen and paracetamol at home.

💊 Paracetamol (aka acetaminophen):

syrups for children - Panadol, Eferalgan, etc. (also available in candles for babies)
tablets for children and adults - Paracetamol, Panadol, Eferalgan, etc. teenagers and adults as an option - different teas such as Fervex, Coldrex, Tylol, Coldflu, etc.
Dosage is better calculated not by age, but by body weight
up to 50 kg: single 12-15 mg/kg
over 50 kg: single 500 mg
paracetamol is taken regardless of food

💊 Ibuprofen:

syrups for children - Nurofen, Nurofen-Forte, Ibufen, Ibufen-Forte, etc. (also available in candles for babies)
tablets for children and adults - Ibuprom , Ibunorm, Nurofen, Imet et al.
dosage should be calculated not by age, but by body weight food

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How long to wait for antipyretics to work

Paracetamol or ibuprofen is given 1 hour, during which the high temperature should drop. Of course, it's nice when the drug worked after 20 or 30 minutes. But 50-60 minutes is considered an equally good effect. And if the temperature returned to normal in an hour and a half - then it’s not very good, for the next appointment, if necessary, it is better to choose another drug from these two.

How many degrees should the temperature drop

A positive effect of an antipyretic suggests a drop of 2 degrees OR a drop below 37.5*C.

🌡️

Which thermometer is more accurate

Thermometers of all options can “lie”. But non-contact and were not created to obtain accurate values can be wrong up to half a degree at best. Mercury - dangerous to use, especially with children. Electronic contacts - here the problem is that most people do not read the instructions, and it says that after the beep you need to wait another 3-4 minutes.

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How often ibuprofen or paracetamol can be given

The single doses given above can be given to the patient no more than once every 6 hours for one drug. That is, 5-6 hours should pass between two paracetamols. And there should be at least 6 hours between two ibuprofens.

If the temperature has gone down, and after 2-4 hours it rises again, these two drugs can be alternated, inserting in time between each other.

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The temperature does not go astray

If both drugs fail to bring down the fever, even temporarily, you should immediately consult a doctor. Call an ambulance at night.

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Other drugs

Giving your child analgin with diphenhydramine is a bad idea, the damage from them can be much more than good. If necessary, hormones can be used once or twice. But only with the consent of the doctor.

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Ineffective remedies

There are homeopathic remedies – suppositories “vibur..l”. All homeopathy is evidence-based ineffective. It is terrible when such a fake medicine is prescribed by “doctors” to a child with a real fever.

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Cold palms and feet in a child

It is not worth fighting against this phenomenon against the background of fever, time is more expensive. Focus on dealing with the temperature itself and schedule a consultation with your doctor.

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Causes of high fever

The most common causes of fever in children are infectious.

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Viruses

Antibiotics do not work against viruses.

Antibiotics do not work against viruses.

SARS

Respiratory viruses usually cause fever on the first or second day of illness. If a runny nose or cough does not start immediately, then fever may be the first symptom of the disease, and then nasal discharge will follow, and so on.

Coronavirus disease can cause non-standard temperature fluctuations on sick days that are “wrong” for ARVI.

Influenza almost always likes to bring the number on the thermometer closer to 39-40*C.

OKI

Acute intestinal infection has the same risks of relatively high temperature as SARS. The difference is only in other points of the lesion, which is manifested by vomiting, diarrhea. But intestinal infections are also bacterial, so you should not relax with them.

In any case, a virus, if it can cause a fever in a particular patient, causes it already on the first or second day.

On the third or fourth day of illness, the body begins to produce antibodies against the antigens of the virus. And then, in the vast majority of cases, the fever begins to pass.

Roseola baby

Herpes type 6 and sometimes type 7 are viruses that often cause parents to panic about young children. The majority of the world's population (90-95%) are asymptomatic carriers of these viruses. When the virus is passed on to a child through kisses from parents (or through the saliva of other children), the child's first contact with the virus can lead to infantile roseola. Or not bring. Considering that most people are carriers of herpes simplex type 6, most children between 6 months and 3-4 years of age will at one time have infantile roseola with significant temperature values.

Childhood roseola (other names: “sixth disease”, sudden exanthema) manifests itself in 3-5 days of fever up to 39-40*C, which, after knocking down with drugs, rises again and again. This is a very unfortunate situation. Apart from the fever during these first days, there are no other symptoms, which further frightens the parents. And after 3-5 days of daily fever, it disappears without a trace, but on the last day the child will develop a roseolous exanthema - a skin rash on most of the surface of the body. The rash does not itch, and goes away on its own in a couple of days. That's all disease. Herpes viruses of types 6 and 7 cannot cause anything else, even being further in the body. In short, the exanthema (rash) is not very sudden, as one of the names of the disease suggests.

Infectious mononucleosis

A similar history of the child's first contact with herpes viruses applies to herpes types 4 and 5 (Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus, respectively). When it first enters the body, infectious mononucleosis can occur: fever, enlargement of the tonsils and all lymph nodes, sometimes enlargement of the liver, spleen. Infectious mononucleosis continues for 2-3 weeks, a doctor's consultation is necessary. However, unlike childhood roseola, infectious mononucleosis can occur at any age.

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Bacteria

Bacterial infections require antibiotic therapy.

Urinary tract infections

This is one of the causes of recurrent body temperature. A urinary tract infection may show no other symptoms other than fever.

Therefore, when a child has only a fever with no other symptoms other than a blood test (total + C-reactive protein), a urinalysis should also be taken.

Angina

Stretococcal pharyngotonsillitis (tonsillitis) - leads to inflammation of the throat, the gradual appearance of purulent deposits there. A fever with angina can occur both evenly and abruptly.

Stomatitis

Mouth ulcers, aphthous stomatitis, may also lead to fever.

Otitis

Otitis (inflammation of the ears), especially purulent, can also give a fairly high body temperature. Both sharply and with a gradual increase in the number on the thermometer.

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Other fevers

Non-serious

Temperature on the teeth is one of the myths of pediatrics, which I wrote about four years ago in the post 10 myths of childhood diseases (look for the last myth in the list).

Fever after vaccination , as one of the possible side effects of vaccines, does not happen very often, once in 9-12 vaccinations. The rise in temperature can be one or several times, both 1 day and up to 3 days. For most vaccines, this can occur in the first three days after vaccination, but for MMR or chickenpox vaccines, it can occur in the second week after administration.

For more information about post-vaccination reactions (and what to do about them), see a separate page - Reactions after vaccines.

Deceptive

Kawasaki disease – read a separate post about it.

Marshall's syndrome (PFAPA syndrome) is a recurrent causeless fever that occurs at relatively regular intervals (usually every few months). In this case, pharyngitis usually appears, and the indicators of the leukocyte blood formula change to the bacterial side, and inflammatory blood counts increase. Although there is no bacterial infection at the same time.

Marshall's syndrome is a genetic defect that usually disappears around 5 years of age (give or take). Therefore, the syndrome is a relatively benign disease.

Another episode of exacerbation of Marshall's syndrome requires immediate administration, on the very first day, of a hormonal preparation. Antibiotics are not needed, and overprescription of antibiotics is a major problem in children with PFAPA syndrome. Therefore, the main thing in this case is to find a doctor who has experience in managing children with Marshall syndrome.

Very serious fevers

Of course, sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, other bacterial and fungal diseases, viral hepatitis, surgical inflammation are serious things that should not be thought of in the first place when a child has a runny nose with temperature.

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