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Fever

Fever is the body's normal response to an illness and is uncomfortable but helpful in turning on the body's immune system. We define fever as a temperature greater than 100.5 in a newborn and greater than 101 in a child over three months of age. Keep track of your child's fever with a thermometer and treat with an anti-fever medicine or cool bath if your child is uncomfortable.

How your child is acting can often be more important than how high his/her fever is. Most children will be fussy with a fever but should appear more playful and comfortable after a dose of fever-reducer. We recommend Acetaminophen (Tylenol) which can be given safely every 4-6 hours and Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) every 6-8 hours in a child over six months of age.

If your child is under three months and has a rectal temperature (>100.4), if your child's fever is very high (>104), or if your child seems unresponsive or lethargic despite a dose of a fever reducer, you should contact the doctor on call. Any other fevers can be evaluated in the office so we can identify the source of the fever and help your child feel better.