What is a "fever" and at what temperature should I be concerned?
Not everyone agrees on what is an elevated body temp. Some use 100.4 or greater, others use 101. This is based
on rectal temps in young infants and oral/axillary temps in older children. Some say axillary temps may vary by up to
1o F. The important thing to remember is that it is not the height of the fever but how well or sick your
child appears. While a fever in an infant <3months of age necessitates a phone call to your doctor, an older infant
or child would benefit from close observation and possibly anti-fever medications.
Many experts agree
that a temp of >102.2 may be associated with highter rates of a more significant
bacterial infection, this is still rare; especially in a relatively well appearing child. Most experts agree that with
temps >104 that you should see your doctor whenever possible. Temps
between 102.2 and 104 are in more of a grey area. You should always at least call your doctor if the fever is associated
with a rash, it is not obvious why your child may have a fever, if he/she appears quite ill, fever lasts >7-10 days, or
if you are concerned for any reason. Don't be afraid of fever. It is how our own immune system helps to fight
off infection.
