Misconceptions

• Unfortunately, many believe you should treat a child at the first sign of a fever. This is not true. A fever is the body's way of fighting off an infection. If you immediately get rid of every fever that a child has, the body does not fight off the infection as quickly as it can, if at all. That does not mean that some fevers should not be treated. Some are too high, causing damage to the body such as brain damage and other serious complications.
  
  

Considerations

• If you feel your child has a fever, you should begin by taking his temperature. There are several methods of doing this, but the recommended ways for younger children are underarm, oral, rectal and ear. When using a thermometer, make sure it is not a glass mercury thermometer. These can be dangerous, as the mercury contained within them is known to cause serious complications, especially if they break.
  
  

Normal Temperatures

• A normal temperature for a child under 3 is 97 to 99 degrees F. If your child is running a slight temperature between 99.1 and 100.2, it is most likely best to let the fever run its course to fight off infection. You should take your child's temperature at regular intervals to make sure that the fever does not worsen. If the fever becomes higher than 100.3, contact your physician immediately and treat the fever.
  
  If your child is older than 3, a normal temperature is between 97 and 100 degrees F. If your child is running a fever of 101 or more, treat the fever and contact your physician if the fever becomes worse.
  
  

Fever Treatments

• If you feel it is best to treat your child's fever, begin by making him comfortable. Make sure the room isn't too hot. Remove any unnecessary clothing. If your child is older than 7 months old, provide plenty of water or fruit juice. If the fever does not lessen within 30 minutes to an hour, or if the temperature is above 100.3 in infants and 101 in children older than 3, administer the proper medication.
  
  Physicians typically recommend Tylenol to lower fevers in children. Make sure to use the correct dosage. If your pediatrician has recommended something other than Tylenol, use that. If you are unsure, be sure to contact your doctor before administering any medication.
  
  

Warning

• If your child has a fever, do not bundle him up or put him in cold water. This does not help the fever, and it can worsen your child's infection and fever. If you are unsure of what to do when your child has a fever, contact your physician to get directions on how to best help your child.