Mayo Clinic Minute: How to tell if your child has a fever
A fever – when the body’s temperature is above 100.4 levels Fahrenheit – is usually a signal that your body is preventing off an an infection.
Dr. Tina Ardon, a Mayo Clinic family medicine doctor, explains what indicators to look ahead to when your child is running a high temperature.
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Feeling feverish? The uncomfortable situation indicators that your immune system is tough at work.
“Fever in and of itself does not necessarily need to be treated,” says Dr. Ardon. “I’m going to want to see that child with a fever who’s not drinking as much, maybe has a symptom they’re more concerned about, such as coughing or vomiting, to make sure we’re not dealing with something more serious.”
Dr. Ardon says that infants youthful than 3 months outdated who’re feverish search care instantly. For older youngsters, if a fever has not improved in three days or different signs have introduced, contact your child’s care workforce.
When it comes to making your child really feel comfy …
“… use a cold rag to the forehead; sometimes a cool, tepid bath can just kind of make them feel better,” says Dr. Ardon. “Six months and older, we can use medications like ibuprofen to help our children feel more comfortable and lower fever. It is important to make sure you’re dosing that correctly. So having a more recent weight can be helpful. Feel free to call your pediatrician or family doctor to make sure they can give you the right dosing instructions if you have any questions.”