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Home / Baby Runs Temperture 103.0 With No Signs of Sick

Baby Runs Temperture 103.0 With No Signs of Sick

All kids get a fever from time to time. A fever itself ordinarily causes no damage and can actually be a proficient thing — information technology'due south 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 piece of cake to be unsure of what to exercise side by side. Should you lot become 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 torso'southward internal "thermostat" raises the body temperature above its normal level. This thermostat is institute in a part of the encephalon called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus knows what temperature your body should exist (usually effectually 98.half-dozen°F/37°C) and volition transport messages to your body to go on it that way.

Most people's body temperatures alter a lilliputian flake during the course of the day: Information technology's usually a little lower in the morning time and a fiddling 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 upward the heat is a way for the body to fight the germs that crusade infections, making it a less comfortable identify for them.

What Causes Fevers?

It'south of import to remember that fever by itself is not an illness — it'southward usually a sign or symptom of another trouble.

Fevers tin 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 past stimulating natural defense mechanisms.

Overdressing: Infants, peculiarly 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 tin 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-course fever afterward getting vaccinated.

Although teething may cause a slight ascent in body temperature, information technology's probably not the cause if a child's temperature is higher than 100°F (37.eight°C).

When Is a Fever a Sign of Something Serious?

In healthy kids, non all fevers need to exist treated. High fever, though, can brand a kid uncomfortable and make problems (such every bit dehydration) worse.

Doctors determine 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.ix°C) oftentimes don't need medicine unless they're uncomfortable. There's ane important exception: If an babe iii months or younger has a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, call your medico 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 kid is betwixt 3 months and 3 years sometime 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 beliefs and activity level into business relationship. Watching how your child behaves will give y'all a pretty good idea of whether a minor illness is the cause or if your child should be seen by a doctor.

The disease 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 downwardly

And don't worry likewise 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 even so drink and urinate (pee) unremarkably, non eating equally much every bit usual is OK.

Is it a Fever?

A gentle buss on the brow or a hand placed lightly on the pare is often enough to give you a hint that your kid has a fever. Notwithstanding, this method of taking a temperature (called tactile temperature) won't requite an accurate measurement.

Use a reliable digital thermometer to confirm a fever. It's a fever when a kid's temperature is at or higher up 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)

Only how high a fever is doesn't tell you much about how sick your kid is. A elementary common cold or other viral infection can sometimes cause a rather high fever (in the 102°–104°F/38.nine°–xl°C range), merely this doesn't commonly hateful in that location's a serious trouble. In fact, a serious infection, especially in infants, might cause no fever or even a low torso temperature (beneath 97°F or 36.one°C).

Because fevers tin rise and autumn, a kid might have chills as the body'southward temperature begins to rise. The kid may sweat to release extra heat as the temperature starts to drop.

Sometimes kids with a fever exhale 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 withal breathing fast later the fever comes down.

How Tin can I Help My Child Feel Better?

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

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

Medicines

If your child is fussy or uncomfortable, y'all can give acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on the packet recommendations for age or weight. (Unless instructed by a doctor, never give aspirin to a kid due to its clan 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 ii months old should not exist given any medicine for fever without being checked by a doctor. If your child has any medical problems, check with the doctor to encounter which medicine is all-time to use. Retrieve that fever medicine tin can temporarily bring a temperature down, only usually won't return information technology to normal — and it won't treat the underlying reason for the fever.

Home Comfort Measures

Apparel your kid in lightweight wearable and encompass with a light canvas or coating. Overdressing and overbundling tin prevent body heat from escaping and tin cause the temperature to rise.

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

While some parents utilize 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 water ice packs/cold baths (they can cause chills that can raise body temperature).

Food and Drinks

Offer plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration considering fevers brand kids lose fluids more apace than usual. H2o, soup, ice pops, and flavored gelatin are all skilful choices. Avert drinks with caffeine, including colas and tea, because they can brand dehydration worse past increasing urination (peeing).

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

In general, permit 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 kid gets plenty of residual. Staying in bed all mean solar day isn't necessary, merely a sick child should take it easy.

Information technology's best to keep a kid with a fever domicile from schoolhouse or childcare. Most doctors experience that it'southward safety to return when the temperature has been normal for 24 hours.

When Should I Call the Physician?

The exact temperature that should trigger a call to the doctor depends on a child'due south historic period, the affliction, and whether there are other symptoms with the fever.

Telephone call your physician if you lot have an:

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

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

  • refuses fluids or seems likewise sick to drink adequately
  • has lasting diarrhea or repeated vomiting
  • has any signs of dehydration (peeing less than usual, not having tears when crying, less warning and less active than usual)
  • has a specific complaint (like a sore throat or earache)
  • yet has a fever after 24 hours (in kids younger than ii years one-time) or 72 hours (in kids 2 years or older)
  • is getting fevers a lot, even if they but last a few hours each night
  • has a chronic medical trouble, such every bit heart disease, cancer, lupus, or sickle cell illness
  • has a rash
  • has hurting while peeing

Get emergency care if your kid 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 earlier your child got sick)
  • blue lips, tongue, or nails
  • infant'due south soft spot on the head seems to be bulging out or sunken in
  • strong neck
  • astringent headache
  • limpness or refusal to move
  • trouble animate that doesn't get better when the nose is cleared
  • leaning forward and drooling
  • seizure
  • moderate to severe belly hurting

Also, inquire if your physician has specific guidelines on when to call almost a fever.

What Else Should I Know?

All kids become fevers, and in almost 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. Anybody gets a piffling cranky when they accept a fever. This is normal and should be expected.

Just if you're ever in doubt about what to do or what a fever might hateful, or if your child is interim ill in a style that concerns you even if at that place'due south no fever, always call your medico for advice.

Baby Runs Temperture 103.0 With No Signs of Sick

Source: https://kidshealth.org/NortonChildrens/en/parents/fever.html