Toddler fever 38.6

High temperature (fever) in children

A high temperature is very common in young children. The temperature usually returns to normal within 3 or 4 days.

What is a high temperature?

Information:

A normal temperature in babies and children is about 36.4C, but this can vary slightly from child to child.

A high temperature is 38C or more.

A high temperature is the body's natural response to fighting infections like coughs and colds.

Many things can cause a high temperature in children, from common childhood illnesses like chickenpox and tonsillitis, to vaccinations.

Checking a high temperature

Your child might:

feel hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest
feel sweaty
look or feel unwell

Use a digital thermometer, which you can buy from pharmacies and supermarkets, to take your child's temperature.

How to take your child's temperature

Place the thermometer inside the top of the armpit.
Gently close the arm over the thermometer and keep it pressed to the side of the body.
Leave the thermometer in place for as long as it says in the instruction leaflet. Some digital thermometers beep when they're ready.
Remove the thermometer. The display will show your child's temperature.

If your child's just had a bath or been wrapped in a blanket, their temperature may be higher for a short time. Wait a few minutes then try again.

What to do if your child has a high temperature

You can usually look after your child or baby at home. The temperature should go down over 3 or 4 days.

Do

give them plenty of fluids
look out for signs of dehydration
give them food if they want it
check on your child regularly during the night
keep them at home
give them either paracetamol or ibuprofen if they're distressed or unwell – check the packaging or leaflet to make sure the medicine is suitable for your child, or speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're not sure
get medical advice if you're worried about your child
try to keep your child at home and avoid contact with other people until they do not have a high temperature

Don’t

do not undress your child or sponge them down to cool them, a high temperature is a natural and healthy response to infection
do not cover them up in too many clothes or bedclothes
do not give aspirin to children under 16 years of age
do not combine ibuprofen and paracetamol, unless it has been recommended by a doctor
do not give paracetamol to a child under 2 months
do not give ibuprofen to a child under 3 months or under 5kg
do not give ibuprofen to children with asthma or chickenpox, unless it has been recommended by a doctor

Read more about giving medicines to children

Urgent advice: Call 111 or your GP surgery now if your child:

is under 3 months old and has a temperature of 38C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature
is 3 to 6 months old and has a temperature of 39C or higher, or you think they have a high temperature
has other signs of illness, such as a rash, as well as a high temperature
has a high temperature that's lasted for 5 days or more
does not want to eat, or is not their usual self and you're worried
has a high temperature that does not come down with paracetamol
is dehydrated – such as nappies that are not very wet, sunken eyes, and no tears when they're crying

Immediate action required: Call 999 if your child:

has a stiff neck
has a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it (use the "glass test" from Meningitis Now)
is bothered by light
has a fit (febrile seizure) for the first time (they cannot stop shaking)
has unusually cold hands and feet
has blue, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue
has a weak, high-pitched cry that's not like their normal cry
is drowsy and hard to wake
is extremely agitated (does not stop crying) or is confused
finds it hard to breathe and sucks their stomach in under their ribs
is not responding like they normally do, or is not interested in feeding or normal activities

Video: Caring for children with fever at home

Watch this video on how to help a child with fever recover as quickly as possible.

Media last reviewed: 1 June 2020
Media review due: 1 June 2023

Page last reviewed: 21 December 2020
Next review due: 21 December 2023

Fevers (for Parents) - Nemours

All kids get a fever from time to time. Usually, a fever isn’t dangerous or bad for kids. It can even be a good thing because it can help the immune system fight infection.

Still, parents might be unsure about how to handle a fever at home and when to call the doctor. Here are some tips.

What Is a Fever?

In general, a fever means the body’s temperature is 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Different ways of measuring a temperature — rectal, armpit, ear, forehead, mouth — get a slightly different number, so the number that means a child has a fever is a little different too.

What Causes Fevers?

Fevers in kids are usually caused by an infection. A fever helps the body by stimulating the immune system to fight the infection. Doctors also think the higher temperature makes it harder for the germs to grow.

A few other reasons kids can have a fever:

Overdressing: Infants, especially newborns, may get fevers if they're overdressed, wrapped in a blanket, or in a hot environment because they don't regulate their body temperature as well as older kids. But because fevers in newborns can be a sign of 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 mild fever that lasts about a day after getting vaccinated.

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

When Is a Fever a Sign of Something Serious?

In most healthy kids who are acting well, a fever isn’t serious.

But a fever can be serious for:

Infants younger than 3 months: If an infant younger than 3 months has a rectal temperature of 100. 4°F (38°C) or higher, call your doctor or go to the emergency department right away.
Kids with some health conditions: If your child has an ongoing health issue, make sure you know if the doctor should be called for fever.

A fever is probably not serious if your child is 3 months or older and:

is still interested in playing
is drinking well
is alert and smiling
has a normal skin color
looks well when their temperature comes down

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

What Are the Signs of a Fever?

Kids with a fever might:

feel warm
act differently (they might be fussy or cranky, or quieter than usual)
breathe a little faster or have a faster heart rate than normal
have a headache
have chills or sweating
have red or flushed skin

For any of these signs, take your child’s temperature to know if they really have a fever.

If your child feels warm or is acting unwell, use a digital thermometer to confirm a fever. Different ways of taking the temperature are more accurate than others at measuring the true body temperature.

The best way to take a temperature:

for kids 3 years old and younger: a rectal temperature
for kids 4 or older who can cooperate: an oral temperature (by mouth)
for any age: under the armpit (axillary) and temporal artery (forehead) are easiest but less accurate. Tympanic (in the ear) is OK for kids 6 months and older.

It's a fever when a child's temperature is at or above one of these levels:

rectal (in the bottom), tympanic (in the ear), or temporal artery (across the forehead): 100.4°F (38°C)
oral (in the mouth): 100°F (37.8°C)
axillary (under the arm): 99°F (37.2°C)

How Can I Help My Child Feel Better?

No treatment is needed if a child is still playing and drinking normally and doesn’t have pain.

Treating a fever with medicine isn't needed if a child is still playing and drinking normally and doesn’t have pain. Give medicine only when a fever causes a child discomfort or keeps them from drinking.

While kids have a fever, keep an eye on them, help them to rest, and keep offering fluids to drink. They need to drink a little extra to make up for the fluids they lose from sweating.

Home Care Measures

Medicines

If your child is uncomfortable from a fever or not drinking fluids well, you can give one of these medicines:

acetaminophen (such as Tylenol or a store brand)
or
ibuprofen (such as Advil, Motrin, or a store brand). Do not give to children under 6 months old.

Follow the package directions for how much to give and how often. If you don't know the recommended dose or your child is younger than 2 years old, call the doctor to find out what to use and how much to give.

If your child has any medical problems, check with the doctor to see which medicine to use.
Unless instructed to by a doctor, never give aspirin to a child. Such use is linked to Reye syndrome, a rare but serious illness.

Do not give any medicine for fever to infants younger than 3 months old unless instructed to by a doctor.

Staying Comfortable

If your child has a fever:

Have them wear lightweight clothing and stay covered with a light sheet or blanket. Heavy clothes and blankets can keep the body from cooling, which can make your child uncomfortable.
Keep the room at a comfortable temperature — not too hot or too cold.
Make sure they get plenty of rest. Staying in bed all day isn't necessary, but a sick child should take it easy.
They should stay home from school or childcare until their temperature has been normal for 24 hours.

Lukewarm sponge baths to lower a fever generally are not recommended. In fact, sponge baths can make kids uncomfortable from shivering. 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 faster than usual. Oral rehydration solutions (like Pedialyle, Enfalyte, or store brands) are a good choice. You also can give water, soup, ice pops, and flavored gelatin. Avoid drinks with caffeine, including colas and tea, which can make dehydration worse by making kids pee more often.

Let kids eat what they want (in reasonable amounts), but don't force it if they don't feel like eating much.

When Should I Call the Doctor?

The temperature that should trigger a call to the doctor depends on a child's age, the illness, and whether they have other symptoms. You might ask if your doctor has specific guidelines on when to call about a fever.

In general, call the doctor if your child is:

younger than 3 months old with a rectal temperature of 100. 4°F (38°C) or higher
3 months or older with a temperature higher than 102.2°F (39°C)
any age but has a health problem like cancer or sickle cell disease and has a fever

Also call if a child 3 months or older has a fever and:

refuses fluids or seems too ill to drink enough
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 2–3 days
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
in an infant, the 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

What Else Should I Know?

All kids get fevers, and in most cases they're 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 with no fever, always call your doctor for advice.

Reviewed by: Melanie L. Pitone, MD

Date reviewed: November 2022

Causes and treatment of white fever in a child

Children's clinic JSC "Medicina"
(clinic of Academician Roitberg)

White fever in a child: what does it mean? This phenomenon consists in the fact that the patient's temperature rises sharply (up to 39 ° C), while the skin of this person, including the child, acquires a pale (that is, white) tint. Although in general a rise in temperature is a positive phenomenon, since in this way the body fights an infection, white fever in a child is a symptom that has a negative meaning. Along with getting rid of harmful viruses and bacteria, this condition can be harmful to the health of the patient. nine0004

In general, older relatives are aware of how to deal with fever, and if this symptom occurs on its own, they often call a doctor. But since it can have a certain specific origin, you still need to contact a specialist to establish the original cause of what is happening.

Causes of white fever in children

The cause of white fever in a child is a certain disease or other harm to health, the fever itself in this case acts as a reaction to what happened to the child. nine0004

One of the cases is the appearance of an infection in the body of a small patient, and then the body reacts to it in a similar way. White fever in a child very often becomes a consequence of such a common disease as SARS. In addition, various types of trauma, swelling, burns, swelling and hemorrhage will become a prerequisite for it.

Significant emotional stress of a stressful nature can also lead to this manifestation. It is quite capable of leading to white fever in a child and intense pain shock. nine0004

In general, there are five key conditions that can cause this condition in a young patient:

infection in the acute stage;
virus infection, if the patient has a respiratory disease, then such a symptom may appear on the first day;
bacterial infection for which the wrong therapy was carried out;
disease caused by inflammation, including pneumonia, otitis media, tonsillitis, rhinitis, pharyngitis; nine0023
diseases of a somatic nature (both chronic and acute).

Symptoms of white fever in children

White fever in a child occurs in three stages.

Baby's initial sudden rise in temperature.
Subsequent stabilization of this indicator.
Drop in temperature to normal (can be either abrupt or gradual).

Among the symptoms of this condition, mention should be made of fever, although the child's hands and feet feel cold. The skin of the baby is pale, and if you click on a certain area, then a white spot on it remains for a long time. The reason is that due to a strong spasm in this area, a violation of blood circulation occurs. nine0004

A small patient is lethargic and weak, he does not want to eat. Arrhythmia may also occur, the baby's body may undergo dehydration.

It is worth remembering that these symptoms indicate that the child's immune system is launched into action, as a result, the body, raising the temperature to 38.5 or 39? C, ensures that the protein of foreign origin that enters the system from the outside coagulates. The problem is that white fever is a dangerous disease, because if this temperature is maintained for a certain time, convulsions can begin, and dehydration will also occur. As a result, the child's life is in danger. nine0004

In general, this condition is most common in children between birth and three years of age.

When should I see a doctor?

It makes sense to consult a doctor if the temperature persists for a long time, not wanting to subside. Also, an alarming symptom will be the general weakness of the child and a violation of his breathing. If the condition of a small patient is of concern, you need to call a pediatrician.

In the most severe cases of white fever in a child, the doctor can best determine what to do about the condition. Of course, in many cases, parents prefer to deal with the temperature on their own, but it is the doctor who will be able to accurately determine its causes and develop optimal actions. nine0004

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of white fever requires a re-measurement of temperature to record that it has reached the mark of 38.5 or 39? It is also required to check his palms and feet to find out if they are cold (this is what is a symptom of this condition).

Treatment

It must be clearly established that this is indeed a dangerous white fever. Treatment of a child in the case when his temperature just rose to 38.5 or 39?C, may not be required if he feels relatively comfortable in this situation.

The room in which the patient remains must in any case be simply warm, not hot. It is necessary that the air is humidified, it is not required to wrap the baby.

Drink should be given to him in plenty, and food - when he wants. Moreover, even if the baby refrains from eating food for quite a long time, it is still impossible to force him to eat. If the child already does not have enough strength, then all the remaining ones can be spent on digesting the incoming food, which will not improve his condition. The recommended drink is various fruit drinks and raspberry jam diluted in water, you can also give water, the main thing is that it all be warm, not hot. But, for example, such a very popular combination as milk and honey, in fact, in the event of a sharp increase in temperature is not recommended. The reason is that the milk curdles inside. nine0004

Since the treatment of white fever in a child should be, first of all, by combating the fever. The temperature, when it rises above 39 degrees, should be brought down by giving the child an antipyretic.

Preparations for white fever will be prescribed to the child by a doctor invited by the parents, who will first determine the cause of the condition of the little patient.

If a sharp rise in temperature occurred due to an infection that is of bacterial origin, then antibiotics should be prescribed to the child, but an antipyretic is not required, since they can bring down the temperature itself, but this will only disguise the fact that it was not possible to cope with the cause. nine0023
Also, the doctor can prescribe both an antipyretic and a second drug, the function of which is to influence the source of the disease, in particular, it can be antiviral, as well as cough medicine.

It should be borne in mind that the action of the antipyretic takes time. If only half an hour has passed after taking it, then with a high probability the temperature simply will not have time to fall. It makes sense to wait for several hours, and after that it will drop in most cases. nine0004

At the same time, a drop in this indicator in a child from 39? to 38? C will be quite acceptable, it will not be bad, and if it falls by half a degree, this will also mean that the body is coping with white fever. At the same time, it is not worth stuffing the baby with antipyretics again, after he was given the amount that was prescribed by the doctor. An overdose of these drugs can cause hypothermia when the child's temperature falls below 36.6°C.

You can also wipe your baby with a damp sponge, but do not rub it with alcohol. This compound negatively affects the body of a small patient. If it is abused, then intoxication can occur as a result, after which its condition will only worsen. nine0004

It is also desirable that the parents or other older relatives remain close to the child. The fever in the case when the child is alone is exacerbated by the fear that he experiences in such a situation. When an adult is with him, it has a beneficial effect on him, after which his condition improves.

How to make an appointment with a pediatrician

If the situation has become urgent, you can already dial an ambulance from our clinic, the phone number of which is +7 (495) 775-73-60. You can also contact us through our website using the feedback form.

The employees of our medical center act as quickly as possible. Especially when it comes to an emergency that requires urgent hospitalization. The clinic carries out diagnostics and immediately prescribes the optimal method of treatment that will help your child overcome all the difficulties of the disease as quickly as possible.

Make an appointment

Leave your phone number and we will help you. nine0004

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Fever in children - NCCH

36.6˚ is the average normal body temperature for an adult. In children, the average body temperature is 0.3-0.4˚ C higher than in adults. In addition, the temperature in children is characterized by significant lability and its average fluctuations in newborns can be about 0.4 ° C, and in older children up to 1 ° C. Factors such as food intake, hunger, movement, restlessness, alternation of sleep and wakefulness. It must be remembered that there are daily fluctuations in temperature, in the evening it is usually slightly higher. In young children with insufficient maturity of thermoregulation processes, environmental factors have a significant impact, it is important to remember that children are very easy to both overcool and overheat, so the air temperature in the room, the quantity and quality of clothes on the child, etc. are important. If the child seemed hot to you, and you decided to measure the temperature, you must wait 15-20 minutes after sleep or physical activity, uncover the child. The temperature should not be measured in the hands of the mother, but in a calmly sitting or lying child. When measuring the temperature in the armpit, you just need to hold the child's hand with a thermometer with your hand or use an ear infrared thermometer. nine0004

Fever is an increase in body temperature ≥38˚ C, in most cases it is not dangerous, it is a normal physiological reaction of the body to infectious and non-infectious diseases. In young children, febrile illnesses are common and are usually caused by viral infections.

In the body, the role of the thermoregulation center is performed by the hypothalamus, its mechanism of action is based on achieving a balance between heat production and heat loss. nine0004

Febrile convulsions are genetically determined, develop in 3-4% of children, as a rule, are not accompanied by epileptic activity of the brain, do not affect the further development of the child and do not recur after 6 years. In almost 50% of cases, febrile convulsions are single, however, if they are present in the history of the child, antipyretics are recommended for him at lower fever figures.

Of course, one can understand the excitement of parents, grandparents when a child has a fever, but they need to remember that by lowering the temperature, especially low values, they calm themselves more than help the child. So, in most viral infections, only during an increase in temperature, antibodies to the virus and various active substances are produced that are responsible for the immune response and immunological memory. Therefore, an artificial decrease in temperature can lengthen the period of the disease. If a child has started antibiotic therapy for a bacterial infection, it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of the antibiotic, which can be seen primarily by self-reduction of body temperature. Against the background of antipyretics, this is quite difficult to do, and the sooner the child receives the correct treatment, the lower the risk of possible complications. Taking into account all of the above, international recommendations have been developed for the appointment of antipyretics. They are indicated in initially healthy children under the age of 3 months with an increase in body temperature above 38 °C. For children older than 3 months, antipyretics are prescribed at a temperature above 39-39.5˚С. For children at risk (with congenital heart defects, diseases of the central nervous system, etc.), as well as with previously identified febrile convulsions, the temperature is reduced to a lower temperature - 37.5-38 ° C. If the child feels unwell with a fever, refuses to eat and drink, parents can begin to lower the temperature to a lower temperature. No guideline for the management of children with fever recommends the use of antipyretics solely to reduce fever.

Temperature reduction is carried out by physical cooling methods and, if necessary, medication. If the child does not have chills, marbling of the skin, the room should be ventilated, the child is open. With cold hands and feet, they must be rubbed to redness or given a no-shpu in order to expand the peripheral vessels for an adequate heat transfer process. The drugs of choice among antipyretics for children are paracetamol and ibuprofen with many convenient dosage forms for the child. A single dose is calculated on body weight and is 10-15 mg / kg (every 6 hours, if necessary) for paracetamol and 5-10 mg / kg (every 6 hours, if necessary) for ibuprofen. If the dose of antipyretics is insufficient, the effect of them may not be. In the presence of vomiting, the form in candles is convenient. A decrease in temperature, as a rule, can be expected 30-60 minutes after taking the drug (somewhat longer with rectal use) and the effect lasts up to 3-8 hours. If the temperature is very high, physical cooling methods can be used until the antipyretic begins to take effect or until the time of the next dose of the drug. Vinegar and vodka, when rubbed, can have both a local irritant effect and a toxic effect when absorbed through the skin. Therefore, the simplest and safest way is to wipe the child with ordinary water at 25-30˚ C. It is necessary to wipe the neck, back of the head, inguinal and axillary folds, forehead, and then other surfaces. nine0004

It is not recommended to alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen, as well as to give their combined preparations, this combination is no more effective than monotherapy, but is fraught with serious side effects and can lead to acute renal failure. Also, nimesulide, acetylsalicylic acid preparations are not used in children with an antipyretic purpose, and metamizole (analgin) can only be administered intramuscularly in order to quickly reduce the temperature. All of these drugs can cause serious side effects that are incomparable to their antipyretic effect. nine0004

Usually a decrease in temperature by 0.5-1˚ C is sufficient to improve the child's well-being, it is not necessary to achieve a decrease in temperature to normal numbers. Large diurnal fluctuations in temperature may have a more significant negative effect than the fever itself.

We have already said above that fever in children is most often accompanied by acute infectious diseases, which can be both viral and bacterial etiology. In the vast majority of cases, a viral infection does not require the appointment of an antibiotic (antibiotics do not act on viruses), children are treated with symptomatic agents and, if necessary, reduce the temperature. In the case of a proven bacterial etiology of the disease, it is necessary to prescribe antibiotic therapy. It is up to the doctor to decide what exactly the child is sick with, and, accordingly, how to treat him. However, if the disease begins with fever, runny nose and cough, the child's condition suffers slightly, with a high degree of probability one can think about the development of a respiratory viral infection and treat the child symptomatically. If the temperature persists for more than 3 days, of course, it is necessary to consult a doctor, control a blood test, if urine is needed, with a decision on the advisability of prescribing an antibiotic. A disease that is not accompanied by catarrhal symptoms, a runny nose, should be more alert to both parents and doctors, due to the higher likelihood of any bacterial infection that needs to be diagnosed and treated in time.