By: Saima N. Jafri, DO, Connecticut Children’s Care Network
Maybe you’re a first-time parent or maybe this isn’t your first rodeo. Either way, many of us parents still “fear the fever.”
Do we need to be worried when our kids spike a low- or high-grade fever? Dr. Saima Jafri, pediatrician with Connecticut Children’s Care Network, lays out the facts on fever in kids.
It may not feel this way, but fever is a good thing. Fever is the body’s way of fighting an infection and “killing the germ.” When your child’s temperature rises above 100.4 degrees Fahreinheit, it’s a fever, which means their immune system is working the way it should.
(There are a few exceptions—so keep reading…)
While fever is caused by an infection, sometimes your child may have a fever with no other symptoms at all. Please don’t panic—this is common—especially after vaccinations or certain procedures that involve anesthesia. Always ask your pediatrician if you’re unsure.
We’ve all been there—it’s 3 am and your child spikes a 104-degree fever. You call the after-hours line and ask if you should head to the emergency room to test for infections. You’re afraid your child may “burn up” because the degree is so high, so they need medical attention now, right?
Not necessarily. The temperature of the fever doesn’t tell the fully story of how sick your child is. Temperatures range for many different reasons—some viruses cause higher fevers than others. It’s also helpful to know that fevers usually spike at night because there is less cortisol in the blood which means the white blood cells are on “high alert” and detect infection more easily.
I’ve seen children run around with 104-degree fevers, and children on the sleepier side with low-grade, 100-degree fevers. If a child looks or feels uncomfortable, by all means, please give them the appropriate dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin). Your pediatrician will tell you the exact dosage for their weight and age.
But, no, they won’t burn up and their brains won’t fry (see below) if you decide to let the fever “break” or run its course without giving medication.
You’ve heard the term “febrile seizure” before. Here’s the deal: febrile seizures—or when your child has a seizure with a fever—can happen when a child’s body temperature increases quickly. This has nothing to do with the temperature itself. These seizures can be scary to watch, but they are harmless and only last a few minutes. And, no, febrile seizures do not damage a child’s brain.
This has been a long debate, so I’ll just say that there is no scientific evidence that teething causes fevers. If your child is popping their first set of teeth, or many at once, it’s possible to have an elevated body temperature of 100 or lower because of inflammation, but not a full-blown fever.
So, why does it seem like every time a tooth emerges, your child gets a high fever? Teething hurts the mouth, and when that happens, children suck and chew on their hands and fingers to self-soothe. Then, germs enter and those germs put a virus into your child’s body, which causes the fever.
It might help to post this list somewhere in your kitchen so you can refer to it when “in the moment.” If your child:
>Related: Are Your Child’s Symptoms from RSV, or Something Else?
It’s never easy to see our children sick or in discomfort. I always tell parents to look at the whole child and not just the fever. Trust your gut—you know best.