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All kids will get a fever at some point. As parents, it can be scary when your child has an abnormally high temperature. Most fevers are harmless; however, it can be difficult to determine when you should treat your child’s fever at home or when you need to call the pediatrician.

“Parents often ask, ‘What temperature is a fever? When should I be worried? Should I let it run its course or should I treat it? And when should I see a doctor?’” said Dr. Michael Tjahjadi, pediatrician at Iredell Pediatrics.

To help ease some of your fears and concerns, Tjahjadi answers common fever-related questions and offers advice for managing fevers in children.

What is a fever?
“A fever is defined as a body temperature that is equal to or higher than 100.4°F. Fever is a symptom, and it is not by itself a disease,” said Tjahjadi.

Fevers are a signal that your child’s immune system is working to fight off an infection. Your child’s body makes a fever to heat up and kill germs without harming the body.

“If your child is less than 2 months old, taking their temperature rectally is best. Otherwise, oral temperature, underneath the tongue, is best,” said Tjahjadi.

When should I treat fever?
To answer this question, Tjahjadi tends to focus on three things: the overall status of the child, their breathing, and their hydration.

Overall status. “If there are times in the day when the child is acting playful and hydrating well, then I’m less worried. But, if the entire day the child is acting lethargic, out-of-it, and not hydrating, I am more worried,” said Tjahjadi.

It’s always important to take into consideration how your child looks and feels. If your child has a fever, but is still interested in playing, they probably do not need to seek medical attention. However, if your child is constantly feeling weak or having trouble drinking or breathing, you should call your pediatrician.

Breathing. “Fever can cause your child’s heart rate and sometimes breathing rate to slightly increase. But, if your child is having severe breathing problems, like if your child has retractions, meaning the chest pulls or sinks in with each breath, especially around the collarbone or the ribs, the child should be seen by a doctor immediately,” said Tjahjadi.

Hydration. “If your child is drinking much less than normal, and their urine output has decreased, it is concerning. This is not a magic number, but if they have less than three wet diapers in 24 hours, your child may be dehydrated, and you should call their pediatrician. If there is no urine output at all in 24 hours, your child should be taken to the emergency room,” said Tjahjadi.

Most of the time, your child’s fever will subside within five days. However, if it lasts longer, it may be a good idea to schedule an appointment with a doctor.

When treating a fever at home, Tjahjadi recommends treating for comfort, not just based on the temperature reading.

“If the child is doing great, hydrating well, and playing like normal, whether it’s a 101 degree fever or a 103 degree fever, I would say just let the body do its work to try to get rid of the infection. But, if your child is not doing well, you can go ahead and treat the fever with fever-reducing medications. It’s important to make sure they are comfortable so they can hydrate,” said Tjahjadi.

When is the fever too high?
A fever itself is not dangerous to your child. A child’s body will not let a fever get high enough to harm itself.

“Our bodies have an internal built-in ‘speed limit’ where the fever is rarely going to go above 105 or 106. In general, I say, look at the child. Don’t just look at the number. With higher temperatures, I usually tell parents to pay closer attention to the child. There's not a magic number, but if the child is not doing well, then yes the child should be seen to be evaluated,” said Tjahjadi.

According to Tjahjadi, parents often believe if they do not treat the fever, then the child will have a seizure.

“The short answer is, for most healthy children, fever will not cause a seizure. Febrile seizures have a genetic component, meaning they run in families. They occur when a child’s temperature rises quickly. Febrile seizures can be incredibly scary, but they do not cause developmental delays, and most kids will outgrow them without any problems. Febrile seizures usually occur between the ages of 6 months and 6 years. If your child does have a febrile seizure, it is important to seek care,” said Tjahjadi.

Learn more
“It's never wrong to reach out to your child's pediatrician for any concerns. Although these represent general helpful guidelines for many routine illnesses, fever can at times be complex. Nothing replaces having a strong relationship with your child's pediatrician, as evaluation and management of fever may differ for children who may have specific medical conditions, a suppressed immune system, worrisome symptoms, or are not fully up to date on their vaccinations,” said Tjahjadi.

Tjahjadi practices at Iredell Pediatrics, located at 728 Hartness Road in Statesville. Tjahjadi is accepting new patients and treats kids from birth to age 18. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Tjahjadi, please call 704-380-6420.