Are they bad?
They are a sign your body is fighting an infection… which is a good thing! Think of it as a house alarm. If someone is breaking in and it does NOT go off, I got bigger problems!
Remember, there are no absolute answers in medicine. If your child is less than 2 months of age, please seek medical care immediately. If they are 3 to 6 months please seek medical attention as well, to ensure that your child does not have a serious underlying infection, but if your child does not appear to be in distress, you can wait to have them seen by a doctor within 12-24 hours. However, if your child has a temperature above 106° Fahrenheit, then brain damage is a possibility depending upon what is the underlying problem causing the fever.
What are signs that I should be worried about?
It’s NOT about the number on the thermometer, it’s about how your kid looks to YOU. If they have a “cold”, make sure they are drinking and peeing and are able to breathe, and just give them supportive care (appropriate fluids, fever medicine).
But, ask yourselves these questions when wondering if you need medical care:
Do you think your child looks ill? Are you concerned? Are you worried about the way they are breathing? Are they not speaking normally? Does it hurt when they use the bathroom? Do they cry when they try and walk? Do they have a new rash? Simple problems or big problems can present similarly at times. The source could all be viral, but if your child has trouble breathing, then it’s important to assess their respiratory status. If they aren’t eating and drinking much and their urine output is MUCH lower than normal, they may be dehydrated. If you are concerned, and if your child is not appropriately alert, don’t hesitate to seek medical care. Bring them in to someone who is board-certified in pediatrics!
What about febrile Seizures?
GREAT QUESTION! So, lets answer this with some quick short answers to give you the basic facts you need, and a little extra to help save you some time using Dr. Google.
Febrile seizures can be classified as simple or complex.
Febrile seizures are common and are seen in about 5% of the population.
They are usually caused by viral infections, and have no lasting effects AND there is no higher risk of epilepsy.
YES! They can happen again, especially if:
There is a family history.
Your child was younger than 18 months when the first one occurred.
The fever start and seizure onset were close in proximity.
What can I do to manage a fever at home, and do I always have to give some type of medicine or antibiotic?
Another great question! You can treat fevers with Tylenol or Motrin (as long as the child is over 6 months), but NEVER Aspirin! Reye's Syndrome can be a complication from aspirin given to children.
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