What is the normal body temperature? How can a fever indicate an underlying condition or infection? When should you take your child to the emergency room for a fever? Get the answers to these questions and more in this comprehensive guide.

Understanding Fever in Children

Fever is a common occurrence in children and is often a sign that their body is fighting off an infection or illness. The normal body temperature typically ranges from 97.5°F to 99.5°F, and a fever is generally defined as a temperature above 100.4°F. However, it’s important to note that a child’s temperature can vary depending on the time of day, their activity level, and the method used to measure it.

Fever is a natural response by the body’s immune system to an infection or illness. When a child’s body temperature rises, it creates an environment that is less favorable for the growth and replication of viruses and bacteria. This is the body’s way of trying to eliminate the infection and restore a healthy balance.

Causes of Fever in Children

Fever in children can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Viral infections, such as the common cold, flu, or COVID-19
• Bacterial infections, such as strep throat, urinary tract infections, or pneumonia
• Certain medications or vaccines
• Environmental factors, such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke
• Underlying medical conditions, such as autoimmune disorders or cancer

Symptoms of Fever in Children

In addition to a high body temperature, children with a fever may also experience other symptoms, such as:

• Chills or shivering
• Sweating
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue or lethargy
• Irritability or fussiness

Treating Fever in Children

The primary goal in treating a fever in a child is to reduce the body temperature and make the child more comfortable. This can be done through the use of over-the-counter fever-reducing medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). It’s important to follow the dosage instructions on the medication and to consult a healthcare provider before giving any medication to a child.

In addition to medication, other ways to help reduce a child’s fever include:

• Giving the child plenty of fluids to stay hydrated
• Dressing the child in lightweight, comfortable clothing
• Sponging the child with lukewarm water to help lower their body temperature

When to Seek Emergency Care for a Fever

While most fevers in children are not a cause for concern and can be managed at home, there are certain situations where a fever may require immediate medical attention. Parents and caregivers should seek emergency care if their child exhibits any of the following symptoms:

• Fever in infants younger than 3 months old
• Fever accompanied by a stiff neck, severe headache, or altered mental state
• Fever above 105°F (40.5°C)
• Fever that lasts for more than 3 days
• Fever with a rash, severe pain, or difficulty breathing
• Fever in a child with a weakened immune system or chronic medical condition

If a child is experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical care right away, as they may indicate a serious underlying condition that requires prompt treatment.

Monitoring and Follow-up

After treating a fever in a child, it’s important to monitor their condition and follow up with a healthcare provider if the fever persists or worsens. Parents and caregivers should keep track of the child’s temperature, symptoms, and any changes in their condition, and be prepared to provide this information to the healthcare provider.

In some cases, a follow-up visit may be necessary to determine the underlying cause of the fever and ensure that the child is recovering properly. Healthcare providers may also recommend additional testing or treatment, depending on the child’s symptoms and medical history.

Preventing Fever in Children

While it’s not always possible to prevent a fever in children, there are some steps that parents and caregivers can take to reduce the risk of illness and infection:

• Encouraging good hand hygiene, such as regular handwashing with soap and water
• Ensuring that children are up-to-date on their recommended vaccinations
• Providing a healthy, balanced diet and encouraging physical activity
• Avoiding exposure to known illness-causing pathogens, such as those found in crowded or poorly ventilated environments

By taking these preventative measures and being vigilant about monitoring their child’s health, parents and caregivers can help reduce the risk of fever and other illness-related complications.

First Aid Information for Fever in hildren

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

• Call 911 if the person is:
• 1. Take Temperature
• 2. Treat Fever, if Necessary
• 3. Give Liquids
• 4. When to Contact a Doctor
• 5. Follow Up
• More

Also seek emergency medical help for any of the following:

• A fever combined with a stiff neck or headache
• Temperature above 105 F
• Fever with sudden onset of rash

• Temperature can be taken orally, rectally, or under the armpit.
• A person is typically considered feverish if oral temperature is above 100 F (37.8 C) or rectal temperature is above 99.5 F (37.5 C). Temperatures measured under the armpit are not considered as accurate and can be as much as 1 degree F lower than an oral measurement.
• A temperature above normal but below 100.4 F (38 C) is sometimes considered a low-grade or mild fever. It may mean that the body is responding to an infection.

No treatment is necessary for a mild fever unless the person is uncomfortable. If the fever is 102 or higher:

• Give an over-the-counter medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) as directed on the label. Check with your doctor first if you have any medical conditions or take other medicines. Warning: Do NOT give aspirin to anyone age 18 or younger unless directed to do so by a doctor.
• Bathing or sponging in lukewarm water may bring the temperature down. Do not use cold water or alcohol.
• Have the person wear light clothing and use a light cover or sheet — overdressing can make body temperature go up. If the person gets chills, use an extra blanket until they go away.

• Have the person drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.

Seek medical help immediately if the person has:

• A history of serious illness such as AIDS, heart disease, cancer, or diabetes, or if the person is taking immunosuppressant drugs
• A high fever that doesn’t respond to fever-reducing medicine
• Been exposed to extremely hot weather and feels hot but is not sweating
• A stiff neck, is confused, or has trouble staying awake
• Severe pain in the lower abdomen
• Severe stomach pain, vomits repeatedly, or has severe diarrhea
• Skin rashes, blisters, or a red streak on an arm or leg
• A severe sore throat, swelling of the throat, or a persistent earache
• Pain with urination, back pain, or shaking chills
• A severe cough, coughs up blood, or has trouble breathing

Contact a doctor if the high body temperature lasts for more than 3 days or gets worse.

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When to Go to the ER with a Fever

What Is a Fever?

The term “fever” gets tossed around a lot, but the details of what a fever does for your body are not often discussed. A fever is usually a symptom of an underlying condition or infection. The part of your brain called the hypothalamus is responsible for controlling body temperature, and the normal body temperature lies at around 98. 6°F or 37°C.

A fever occurs when your body is trying to kill a virus or bacteria that causes an infection. This is because a higher temperature makes the body a less welcoming host for replicating viruses and bacteria. A mild fever is a good indication that your immune system is doing its job, but fevers are not always brought on by infections. Other potential causes of fever include amphetamine abuse, alcohol withdrawal and environmental fevers like heat stroke.

When Should You Go to the ER for a Fever?

While it’s true that a fever typically means your immune system is hard at work, the fever can sometimes raise to unhealthy levels. When the body temperature exceeds 105°F, it exposes the proteins and body fats to temperature stressors that can interfere with their functioning. Prolonged exposure can lead to cellular stress, infarctions, necrosis, seizures and delirium.

To prevent these conditions from occurring, here are some signs that a fever warrants a trip to the ER.

For an Infant Younger than 90 Days Old

• If changes in appetite are occurring along with the fever, you should seek emergency care.
• If changes in behavior or sleeping patterns accompany the fever, you should seek emergency care.
• If diarrhea or vomiting are occurring along with the fever, you should seek emergency care.
• If your infant is constipated and has a fever, you should seek emergency care.
• If your infant has a cold and a fever, you should seek emergency care.
• If your infant has a rash or skin discoloration and a fever, you should seek emergency care.
• If your infant has eye discharge, you should seek emergency care.
• If your infant is having difficulty waking up to feed alongside a fever, you should seek emergency care.
• If your infant is having difficulty breathing, you should seek emergency care.

For a Baby Between the Ages of 90 Days and 36 Months Old

• If your baby is experiencing any of the symptoms above alongside a fever, you should seek emergency care.
• If your baby is not immunized and has a fever, you should seek emergency care.

For a Child Older than 36 Months Old

• If your child is experiencing any of the symptoms above alongside a fever, you should seek emergency care.
• If your child is experiencing abdominal pain and has a fever, you should seek emergency care.
• If your child is communicating feelings of persistent discomfort alongside a fever, you should seek emergency care.

For an Adult

• If an adult is experiencing a painful headache and has a fever, they should seek emergency care.
• If an adult is experiencing abdominal pain and has a fever, they should seek emergency care.
• If an adult is having difficulty breathing or chest pain accompanied by a fever, they should seek emergency care.
• If an adult has a compromised immune system and comes down with a fever, they should seek emergency care.
• If an adult has had chemotherapy recently and has a fever, they should seek emergency care.
• If the adult’s fever lasts for more than three days, they should seek emergency care.
• If the adult’s fever rises above 103°F, they should seek emergency care.
• If the adult’s fever is accompanied by nausea, confusion or a rash, they should seek emergency care as these symptoms may be caused by meningitis.
• If the adult’s fever is accompanied by confusion, a rapid heartbeat or dizziness, they should seek emergency care as these may be signs of a heat stroke.

Please note that these lists are not all-inclusive. If you are doubtful that the fever will resolve on its own, it is best to have the condition examined by a medical professional.

What Will Advance ER in Dallas Do for a Fever?

At Advance ER, we offer top quality medical care 24/7, with emergency professionals who are experienced in treating all age groups. We are dedicated to giving every patient the best care available, and will work diligently to identify the cause of the fever and treat the underlying condition. Whether you are concerned about your child, a loved one or yourself, you can trust our integrative, advanced approach to health and wellness.

If you would like to learn more about Advance ER, please give us a call at (214) 494-8222, or find us online.

Rheumatic fever – Humanitas

Rheumatic fever – is an inflammatory disease that develops as a complication of streptococcal pharyngitis or scarlet fever when not properly treated. Streptococcal pharyngitis and scarlet fever develop in association with group A streptococcal infections.

Rheumatic fever is most common in children aged 5 to 15 years, but can occur in young children and adults. Despite the prevalence of streptococcal pharyngitis, rheumatic fever is rare in developed countries. However, rheumatic fever is still prevalent in many developing countries.

Rheumatic fever can cause permanent damage to the heart, including damage to the heart valves and heart failure. Treatment can help reduce tissue damage from inflammation, reduce pain and other symptoms, and prevent recurrence of rheumatic fever.

Symptoms

The symptoms of rheumatic fever are varied. Some people have few symptoms, others may have very few. Symptoms may also change over the course of the disease. Rheumatic fever appears, usually two to four weeks after streptococcal pharyngitis.

Signs and symptoms of rheumatic fever due to inflammation of the heart, joints, skin and central nervous system:

• Fever
• Pain and tenderness in the joints, most often in the ankle, knee, elbow and wrist joints, less often in the shoulder, hip, and joints of the hands and feet.
• Pain in one joint that radiates to another joint
• Redness, fever and swelling in the joints
• Small painless nodules under the skin
• Chest pain
• Heart murmur
• Fatigue
• Flat or slightly raised, painless eruption with jagged edges (marginal erythema).
• Jerky uncontrolled body movements (Sydenham’s chorea or St. Vitus dance) – most common in the hands, feet and face
• Outbursts of unusual behavior, such as crying or inappropriate laughter, accompanying an attack of Sindengham’s chorea

Conditions that require medical attention

If signs or symptoms of streptococcal pharyngitis appear, the child should be taken to the doctor. Properly treating a streptococcal infection will help prevent rheumatic fever. Seek medical attention if your child has any of the following signs or symptoms:

• Sore throat without signs of a cold, such as a runny nose
• Sore throat with soreness and swollen lymph nodes
• Red eruptions that first appear on the head and neck and then spread to the trunk and limbs
• Difficulty swallowing anything, including saliva
• Thick or bloody nasal discharge, common in children under 3 years of age
• Tongue bright red with prominent papillae over its entire surface – the so-called “crimson tongue”

Consult a physician regarding the presence of fever in the following cases:

• Rectal temperature up to 38 C (100. 4 F) in neonates under 3 months of age
• Fever greater than 38.9 C (102 F) in children aged 3 to 6 months
• Fever greater than or equal to 38.9 C (102 F) in children aged 6 months to 2 years who do not have a fever after taking the appropriate drug or if the symptom persists for more than one day
• Temperature rise to 102 F (38.9 C) or more in children aged 2 to 17 years (in children under 3 years of age, temperature is measured in the rectum, in children over 3 years old, in the oral cavity) in the absence of a decrease temperature after taking the appropriate drug or if the symptom persists for more than three days
• In addition, a doctor should be contacted if the child has any other signs or symptoms of rheumatic fever.

Complications

Inflammation caused by rheumatic fever may persist for weeks to months. In some cases, inflammation can cause long-term complications.

Rheumatic heart disease is an irreversible heart disease caused by the inflammatory process of rheumatic fever. The valve that separates the two left chambers of the heart (mitral valve) is most commonly affected, but other valves can also be damaged. Such damage may result from one of the following conditions:

Valve stenosis This condition is characterized by narrowing of the valve, resulting in reduced blood flow.
Valve regurgitation This condition is characterized by incomplete closure of the valve, causing blood flow to go in the wrong direction.
Damage to the heart muscle Inflammation due to rheumatic fever can lead to weakening of the heart muscle and, as a result, a significant decrease in the pumping function of the heart.
Injury to the mitral valve, other heart valves, or other tissues of the heart may cause subsequent heart problems. Conditions that can develop due to valve damage:

Atrial fibrillation – irregular and chaotic beating of the upper chambers of the heart – atria.
Heart failure is the inability of the heart to pump enough blood around the body.

Hemorrhagic fever disrupted children’s recreation

Check-in of the first shift at children’s health camps located on the territory of the Saratov natural park “Kumysnaya Polyana” and in the Tatishchevsky district of the Saratov region was disrupted due to an outbreak of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). This severe infectious disease, which is carried by rodents, can lead to acute kidney failure. To date, there are 333 infected people in hospitals in the region, one person has died. In camps where shifts could not start on time, deratization is being carried out. In the Public Chamber of the region, the cancellation of arrivals of children is supported.

Photo: Dmitry Lebedev, Kommersant / buy photo

In the Saratov region, the arrival of the first shift to children’s camps located in the forest area of ​​the Kumysnaya Polyana natural park (Saratov) and in the neighboring Tatishchevsky district was canceled. This is associated with an outbreak of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). The first shift was supposed to start in the first half of June, but the control of the quality of deratting showed unsatisfactory results, experts announced the high activity of the natural focus of HFRS, and the races were canceled due to “high epidemiological risks,” the department of Rospotrebnadzor for the Saratov region specified. In total, there are 14 children’s health institutions in the Saratov forest. Information about the new arrival dates for children was promised to be posted on the website of the city education committee. The Ministry of Social Development of the region noted that the families of children who planned to rest in the camps of Saratov and the Tatishevsky district will be offered rest in other recreational institutions and municipal day camps.

HFRS (also known as “mouse fever”) is a viral infection transmitted by rodents. Infection occurs mainly by airborne dust: a person inhales contaminated dust. There is also evidence that mouse fever is transmitted to humans by the alimentary route, when water or food is infected with the secretions of infected rodents, or fever passes to humans with an infection that enters the body with dirty hands. HFRS is characterized by damage to small vessels, hemorrhagic diathesis, hemodynamic disorders, kidney damage with the development of acute renal failure. On the territory of the Saratov region there are several foci of this disease.

The authorities report a decrease in the incidence of the disease during the past week. According to the regional Ministry of Health, as of June 3, 333 infected people remain in the medical institutions of the region. Over the past few days, five people have been admitted for treatment, 234 patients have been discharged.

“In general, the diagnosis of HFRS was confirmed in 348 residents of the region, 54 were removed,” said the head of the regional Ministry of Health, Natalia Mazina. According to official data, one death from HFRS was registered: on May 30, a young woman with symptoms of the disease was admitted to one of the Saratov hospitals in critical condition, who died less than a day later, despite the medical assistance provided. Currently, the investigative department for the Oktyabrsky district is checking this fact.

The local Rospotrebnadzor said that specialists had issued more than 300 orders to heads of management companies, chairmen of non-profit gardening cooperatives, owners of markets and shopping malls in Saratov to take preventive measures.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the region organized a duty of specialists to limit the visits to the forest area by the population. As of June 1, deratization was carried out in Saratov on an area of ​​over 1.9thousand hectares, liquidated 102 unauthorized dumps, carried out sanitary felling of trees and shrubs on an area of ​​27 hectares, as well as clearing dead wood and overgrowth on an area of ​​127 hectares. Specialists of the Russian Research Anti-Plague Institute “Microbe” (in the system of Rospotrebnadzor) monitor the effectiveness of derat control at Kumysnaya Polyana. Governor Valery Radaev instructed to take areas with a high incidence of HFRS “under special control” and take “all necessary measures to eliminate the risks of further spread of the disease. ”

The Dubki children’s health and education center in the forest area refused to comment on the situation, stating that “questions should be directed to Rospotrebnadzor.”

The camp noted that there is no focus of this disease on its territory, deratization and control of its quality were carried out.

Elena Sokolenko, executive director of the Beryozka children’s sports and health center on the territory of Kumysnaya Polyana, also reported that deratization had been carried out in the institution, and the examination of the Rospotrebnadzor department showed that there was no outbreak of HFRS on the territory. “Two weeks ago, we had a meeting of young police officers – 850 children from all over the region came, plus 100 adults. Of these, 300 people lived in the center for three days. There was no information that someone, God forbid, fell ill,” said Ms. Sokolenko. According to her, the cancellation of the check-in did not affect the activities of the center – the shift, in accordance with the schedule, should open on June 14, before that the deratization of the territory will be carried out again.