How to stop fever in a child

What to Do When Your Kid Has a Fever

Written by R. Morgan Griffin

What You Should Do

Acetaminophen can lower your child's temperature. If they're older than 2, the dose will be listed on the label. If they're younger, ask your doctor how much to give them.

Another option is ibuprofen if your child is at least 6 months old.

There's a lot you can do to make them feel better. Put a cool compress on their head and keep their room at a moderate temperature -- not too hot and not too cold. Dress them in one layer of light clothing and offer a light blanket. You can also cool them off with a lukewarm sponge bath.

And don't forget -- make sure they drink a lot of fluids.

What You Shouldn't Do

Never give your child aspirin. It can cause a serious condition called Reye’s syndrome.

Avoid combination cold and flu remedies in young kids. They shouldn't be used in children under age 4. In older kids, it’s unclear how well they work.

If you decide to use a cold medicine, check with your pediatrician to be sure your child is old enough for the type of medicine you’re considering. According to the FDA, no child under the age of 2 should be given any kind of cough or cold product that contains a decongestant or antihistamine, and caution should be used even in children who are older than 2. In addition, no child under 4 years of age should be given a product that combines cough and cold medicines. The possible side-effects can be serious and even life-threatening.

If the doctor says it’s OK to use a cough or cold medicine, then read the label before you buy and pick the one that most closely matches your child’s symptoms. Don't switch back and forth between different medications without your pediatrician's OK.

Don't use an icy cold bath or rub your child's skin with alcohol. Either can actually drive a fever up.

And even if your child has the chills, don't bundle them up with thick blankets or clothes.

When Should You Call the Doctor?

Usually, you don't need to take your sick child to the doctor. But sometimes fever can be a serious warning sign. Call your pediatrician if your child:

Has a temperature of 104 F or higher
Is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 100.4 F or higher
Has a fever that lasts for more than 72 hours (or more than 24 hours if your child is under age 2)
Has a fever along with other symptoms such as a stiff neck, extremely sore throat, ear pain, rash, or severe headache
Has a seizure
Seems very sick, upset, or unresponsive

Tips to Take Your Child's Temperature

How often do you need to check? That depends on the situation. Ask your pediatrician. Usually, you don't need to take your child's temperature obsessively or wake them up if they're sleeping peacefully. But you should do it if their energy seems low or if your child has a history of seizures with fever.

Which thermometer is best for kids? Digital ones are best. They can be used in their mouth, rectally, or under the arm.

For young children, a rectal temperature is most accurate. If your kids are age 4 to 5 or older, you can probably get a good reading with a thermometer in the mouth. Under the arm is less reliable but it's easier to do. Remember to add a degree to an underarm reading to get a more accurate number.

Children's Health Guide

The Basics
Childhood Symptoms
Common Problems
Chronic Conditions

Home Treatment and When to See a Doctor

Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Fever is an increase in the body’s temperature above normal. Body temperature is usually lowest in the morning and goes up through the day. Each person’s body temperature can be different. It is hard to give an exact temperature for a fever, but most health care providers agree that a fever is a temperature of 100.4˚ Fahrenheit (F) or 38˚ Celsius (C) or higher.

Fevers can show that the body is fighting an infection from a virus or bacteria. It can also happen after getting a vaccine, from getting overheated, or from a very bad sunburn. Many times, the fever does not need to be treated and will go away on its own.

How to Take a Temperature

The type of thermometer used may make a difference.

To take a temperature, use a digital thermometer. Never use a mercury thermometer.
Rectal (in baby’s bottom) thermometers are the most accurate.
Forehead (temporal artery) thermometers are the next best choice if used the right way.
Oral (mouth) and ear (tympanic) thermometers can be used if done properly. For oral temperatures, wait 30 minutes after drinking something hot or cold. For ear, wait 15 minutes after coming in from the cold.
Lastly, an axillary (armpit) temperature can be used as a quick check but it is not very accurate.

The best ways to check your child’s temperature depends on their age.

Under 3 months: rectal or forehead thermometers
4 months or older: rectal, forehead, or axillary thermometers
Older than 6 months: rectal, forehead, ear, or axillary thermometers

4 years old or older: oral (mouth), forehead, ear, or axillary thermometers

Be sure to tell your child’s health care provider which method you used.

Home Treatment

A fever may not need to be treated unless your child is uncomfortable. Even higher temperatures are not usually dangerous unless they have a long-term illness.

Dress your child in light clothing. Over dressing them can trap the body’s heat and make the temperature go higher.
- Babies under age 1: Dress them in a sleep sack or wearable blanket. Do not put loose blankets over them.
- Children over age 1: While sleeping, cover them with a sheet or light blanket.
Give extra fluids.
- Babies under age 1: Continue to give breast milk and formula. They should not be given water. If they are older than 6 months, you can give Pedialyte®.
- Children over age 1: Offer extra liquids to drink, like water, diluted 100% juice, popsicles, or Pedialyte.
Your child may not want to eat much. Offer soft foods often and in small amounts but do not force them to eat.
Give sponge baths or let your child soak in a tub. Water should be lukewarm, not too hot or cold. Use a wash cloth to sponge the water over your child’s body (Picture 1).
- Do NOT add alcohol to the water. It can be dangerous.
- Recheck your child’s temperature 15 minutes after the bath. If the temperature is 103˚F (39.4˚C) or is going higher, repeat the sponge bath.
Over-the-counter medicines can help lower a fever. Read the label on the bottle to know the right dose for your child.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol^®) may be used in all children over 2 months.
- Ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®) may be used in children over 6 months.
- Do NOT give aspirin to children (Picture 2). Aspirin has been linked to a disease called Reye’s syndrome, which can be fatal.

When to Call the Health Care Provider

Call your child’s health care provider right away if your child:

Is younger than 3 months of age and has a temperature of 100.4˚F (38˚C) or higher.
Is older than 3 months and has a temperature:
- Of 104 ˚F (40 ˚C) or above.
- Above 102˚F (38.9˚C) for more than 2 days or keeps coming back.
- That has been treated to bring it down, but it has not worked.
At any age, has a fever and:
- Looks very ill, is very fussy, or very drowsy.
- Is not eating or drinking and shows signs of dehydration – dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, dark urine, dry diapers, or not urinating.
- Has a stiff neck, bad headache, very sore throat, painful stomach ache, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Has an unusual rash
- Has been in a very hot place, such as an overheated car.
- Has immune system problems that make them more likely to get sick, such as sickle cell disease or cancer, or takes a medicine that weakens the immune system.

Call 911 or go to the emergency department if your child has trouble breathing, has a seizure, or is hard to wake up.

Fever (PDF), Arabic (PDF), Nepali (PDF), Somali (PDF), Spanish (PDF)

what to do with a temperature of 39-40 without symptoms in an infant

A high temperature in a child under three years old is a reason for panic in young parents. Most frightening and confusing when the thermometer rises to high numbers, and there are no other symptoms of the disease. Let's look at the possible causes of a sudden fever and decide what to do when your baby only has a fever and nothing else.

Heat is a defense mechanism. If a child, even without symptoms, has a sharp rise in temperature, this may mean that his immune system is fighting some kind of infection. High temperature (38-39degrees or more) starts the process of producing interferon - a special protein that activates the body's defense system. Also, the body can react with fever to pain, overexcitation, stress.

Sometimes a child does not complain about anything, but for some time (from a week to a month) he lives with a temperature of 37.5 or slightly lower. It is called subfebrile. Sometimes it speaks of hidden problems.

Infants and children under 3 years of age are a special case. The thermoregulation of their body is still poorly established, sometimes failures occur in it. That low temperature, then its short increase to 37.5 degrees are considered normal options. If the baby is not naughty, eats well, sleeps, nothing needs to be done. It is possible that the situation will soon resolve itself. nine0003

If the baby has a high temperature without symptoms of any disease, follow the tactics of waiting:

Observe: usually by the end of the first day after the temperature rises, the symptoms of the disease will definitely appear.
Do not proactively treat the disease: do not give the baby antibiotics or other strong medicines.
Do not bring down the fever by wiping the child with vinegar, alcohol or vodka - this can cause toxic poisoning.
A cold bath is also contraindicated - such an action can lead to vasospasm, not to mention the aggravation of the disease. It is better to lower the baby into water with a temperature index of 36.6 - this is enough to reduce hyperthermia. nine0016
Do not rub your baby with badger or other "very useful" fat: you will disrupt the thermoregulation system, which will lead to overheating of the whole organism.

Respiratory viruses. ARVI, or a cold, is considered the most common cause of a sharp asymptomatic fever. However, by the end of the first day, the symptoms will manifest themselves: the throat will turn red, transparent discharge will flow from the nose, and the head will start to hurt. It is clear that when, for example, a child is 6 months old, he is unlikely to be able to tell what worries him. However, lethargy, whims will speak for themselves. nine0016
Enteroviruses. In the people this group of viruses is called "intestinal flu". Such infections are second in ability to cause sudden fever. A day later, a runny nose, cough, as well as gastric upset, vomiting will appear.
Overtemperature. The temperature can jump if the child has been in the sun for a long time or in a stuffy, hot room, ran, jumped, was dressed excessively warmly. Some mothers make the mistake of wrapping their babies tightly and then leaving the stroller in the sun "to keep the baby warm". nine0016
Teething. A four-month-old baby, a 9-month-old child, a one-year-old baby, and a three-year-old toddler can face such a problem: after all, teeth erupt in the first three years of life. The gums swell, redden, saliva flows profusely, a runny nose is possible, the appearance of loose stools.
Reaction to vaccination. At any age, an increase in temperature after vaccination is possible. This reaction usually resolves within a few days.
Allergy. Children of the first year of life begin to try various foods and drinks that can cause an allergic reaction. Unseasonal fruits and berries are especially dangerous in this regard (strawberries in April and May, watermelons in June). As a rule, a rash and itching are observed after a couple of hours after the onset of fever. nine0016

These are just the most common causes of fever in infants. However, there are much more serious diseases, the symptom of which is a high temperature: urinary tract infection, SARS, herpes viruses and even tuberculosis.

It is necessary to give the baby an antipyretic only when the temperature rises to conditionally critical numbers. In a baby, in a one-year-old child and a baby up to 2 years old, this is a mark of 38.5 degrees, for a child of two or three years old - 39.

However, in some cases it is necessary to bring down the temperature. First of all, this is the evening time: if after 3-4 hours you put the baby to bed. It is also necessary to take antipyretics if he does not tolerate heat well: he is pale, lethargic, lies motionless, wants to sleep all the time, shaking from the cold.

What to do when the temperature is high?

Examine the child carefully. If a vascular pattern is noticeable on his body, while the baby’s arms and legs are cold, it is necessary to give him a no-shpu. Icy limbs are a sign of vascular spasm, if it is not eliminated, the temperature will not decrease. The dosage of no-shpy for children 1-3 years old is a quarter, no more. The legs are warmed with a heating pad, covered. nine0016
After the limbs begin to warm up, the child is given paracetamol, panadol, nurofen, or ibuprofen. It is convenient for children at the age of several months to give syrup or use rectal suppositories. Many pediatricians advise starting with paracetamol - this medicine helps only with the most mild diseases. So it will be easier for the doctor to assess the condition of the baby: if paracetamol helped immediately, there is nothing serious.
If after 40 min. the thermometer has not dropped below, the child should be undressed and wiped with cool water every five minutes. Measure the temperature after an hour of such procedures: if it has not decreased or continues to rise, give another antipyretic (was paracetamol - now nurofen, or vice versa). nine0016
If after 40 min. after taking the second antipyretic fever does not subside - call a doctor.

Remember! In no case should children be given aspirin: it can provoke severe damage to the brain and liver, up to the development of acute liver failure. Also, without the supervision of a specialist, it is impossible to give a lytic mixture or its components: papaverine, analgin, diphenhydramine. These drugs cause severe intoxication: hospitalization is often required to maintain vital functions. nine0003

Any increase in temperature in a child of the first years of life requires a consultation with a pediatrician. It is permissible to wait a day or three, if the baby's health is not disturbed and the temperature is not too high.

Even if you think that the cause of the fever was "innocent" circumstances, such as teething or allergies, the condition of the child should still be assessed by a specialist. Stomatitis, sore throat or thrush can be disguised as cutting teeth, and fever with allergies can cause anaphylactic shock. nine0003

Subfebrile condition is not so harmless, especially if it lasts for a month. The list of diseases that it accompanies is quite significant: anemia, diabetes mellitus, brain diseases, helminthic invasion, etc.

In difficult cases, in order to establish the true cause of fever, it is necessary to undergo a thorough examination. The pediatrician can refer the mother and baby for a consultation with narrow specialists: an ENT specialist, an immunologist, an otolaryngologist. Do not refuse diagnostics, it will help to choose adequate treatment. nine0003

Check your baby carefully before visiting the doctor. Assess the condition of the skin: are there any rashes, spots, redness, swelling? Examine the tongue: is it coated? Examine the throat, check nasal breathing. Remember what happened the day before and could lead to a fever. Let your doctor know about any abnormalities you see to help him make a faster diagnosis.

Do not give your baby any medicine on the day of the check-up, so as not to blur the picture of the disease. nine0003

If four days after the doctor's visit and the start of treatment, there is no improvement, the specialist should be called again.

Remember! If the child has a temperature of 39-40 and is under two years old, call an ambulance immediately. An ambulance call is also necessary if:

the child loses consciousness;
he has convulsions;
does not stop vomiting;
he complains of severe pain in any part of the body;
it hurts for a child to raise, tilt his head forward; nine0016
you brought down the temperature, but it rose sharply again.

The main thing in the treatment and prevention of diseases is the proper care of the baby. It is necessary to create conditions that will help maintain health, and in case of illness, in particular, a sudden rise in temperature, quickly cope with it:

The air in the children's room should be clean and fresh. To do this, in any weather, ventilate the room, in the morning and in the evening for 15 minutes.
The room should not be hot. Optimal - 20-22 degrees. When the baby has a fever, the room temperature can be lowered to 18 degrees. nine0016
Air humidity is very important - it allows the mucous membranes (the vanguard of immunity) to remain hydrated and work effectively. The humidity level should be 50-70%. Use humidifiers, do wet cleaning, arrange water containers around the room, hang wet laundry.
You can instill a weak saline solution into the nasal passages to prevent drying out of the mucous membranes.
The baby should drink enough. You need to drink clean water, herbal tea, dried fruit compote; Breast milk is the best drink for a baby. The norm of the liquid you drink is 40 ml per 1 kg of weight. nine0016
It is important that the child always walks in the fresh air. If his state of health is not changed, activity is not reduced, you can go out for a walk even at 38.5.
It is not necessary to wrap up the child. Even those with a temperature should be dressed as usual, and in case of a strong fever, completely undressed. It is necessary to dress the baby in clothes made of natural breathable fabrics. During a fever, the baby must stop using disposable diapers.
Do not try at all costs to feed a child when he has a fever. Food for a one-year-old and an older baby should be light, quickly digested: salads, cereals, vegetable purees, steamed cutlets. nine0016
Good sleep, quality rest is very important. At the same time, you should not force children to observe bed rest during the heat: the body itself will tell you what kind of motor mode it needs now.

If your child has a sudden fever, do not panic. Acting according to the algorithm described in the article, you will quickly cope with a fever in a baby.

How to bring down the temperature of a child at home and without drugs

An elevated body temperature in a child is a clear sign of a disease, and the range of diseases can be wide: from SARS to chicken pox or tonsillitis. Maria Chakhnashvili, a pediatrician at the Semeynaya clinic chain, told Gazeta.Ru in which cases the temperature in a child needs to be brought down and what to do if it does not decrease. nine0003

How to bring down a high temperature in a child at home?

An increase in body temperature is a natural protective reaction of the human body. The immune system begins active synthesis of various protective substances only at temperatures above 38.5°C. That is, when the body temperature rises above 38.5 ° C, the immune system tries to start working, there is no need to turn it off. If the temperature drops, then recovery may be delayed.

The fact is that viruses and bacteria that cannot survive at high (above 39°C) body temperature, at a comfortable 36.6°C or 37.5°C, they reproduce perfectly.

It must be remembered that antipyretic therapy does not shorten the duration of the disease, does not reduce the risk of complications, and is required mainly to alleviate the discomfort of the child.

If you still need to bring down the temperature, you can use two drugs approved for childhood - these are paracetamol and ibuprofen. They have many trade names and forms of release (candles, syrup, tablets), but these are the active ingredients. nine0003

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A single dose of ibuprofen is prescribed at the rate of 10 mg per 1 kg of weight, paracetamol - at the rate of 10-15 mg per 1 kg. You should not be guided by the instructions, which indicate the dosage by age, since one child per year can weigh 8 kg, and the other 12 kg.

It must be remembered that the drugs act after 40 minutes and only in the absence of dehydration. If the temperature does not drop, and you are sure that you have correctly calculated the dose of the antipyretic, give the child more fluids. nine0003

How to quickly reduce the temperature without medication?

It is necessary to bring down the temperature in children, but not every one. Parents should focus not on the numbers on the thermometer after measuring the temperature in the armpit, but on the well-being, behavior and appearance of the child.

If the child's skin is pink, he is active and fights off attempts to take the temperature, cries loudly, drinks well, you can do without drugs. In this case, you only need to ventilate the room, do not wrap up, do not try to feed and do not turn on the heater. nine0003

It is recommended to drink plenty of water: 100-120 ml per 1 kg of body weight per day.