Is 104 temp dangerous: How high a fever is too high?

25.07.202317.07.2023 by alexxlab

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Top 5 fever myths and facts

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For many parents, fever is one of the most concerning and alarming symptoms a child can have. There are many scary fever myths out there – and it’s time to set the record straight! To many pediatricians, fever is considered a good sign that the body is mounting a response to an infection. Here are my top five fever myths and facts:

Myth #1: Temperatures between 98.7°F and 100°F (37.1°C to 37.8°C) are low-grade fevers.

Fact: These temperatures are actually normal variations and are not fevers. The body’s temperature changes throughout the day and is naturally higher in the afternoon and evening. An actual fever is any temperature of 100.4°F or higher.

Myth #2: Fevers are bad, can cause brain damage or seizures and are dangerous to my child.

Fact: Fevers are a protective mechanism and a sign that the body’s immune system is turned on. Most fevers are good for sick children and help the body fight infection. Fevers do not cause brain damage. As for seizures, the vast majority (96 percent) of children do not have seizures with a fever. About 4 percent of children can have a seizure with a fever – this is called a febrile seizure. Febrile seizures are scary to watch, but they usually stop within five minutes. They do not cause brain damage or have long-term side effects. Children who have had febrile seizures are not at greater risk for developmental delays or learning disabilities.

Myth #3: All fevers need to be treated with fever medicine (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen). After treatment, the fever should go away completely.

Fact: Fevers need to be treated only if the child is uncomfortable. For young children, that usually means fevers over 102°F or 103°F (39°C or 39.4°C). With treatment, fevers usually come down 2°F or 3°F (1.1°C or 1.7°C) but may not go away completely. There is no harm in not treating a fever.

Myth #4: The exact number of the temperature is very important. If the fever is high, the cause is serious.

Fact: How your child looks is what’s important, not the exact temperature. If the fever is high, the cause may or may not be serious. If your child looks very well, the cause is likely to be less serious. One exception is in babies who are less than 3 months of age. They should always be seen by a health care provider right away if they have a fever because their immune systems are not fully developed. If it’s the weekend and your baby spikes a fever, it’s best to call your doctor’s office and take them to an urgent care.

Myth #5: If the fever doesn’t come down (if you can’t “break the fever”), the cause is serious.

Fact: Whether a fever comes down or not, is not related to the seriousness of the infection. The height of the fever and how long it lasts does not tell us whether it is caused by a virus or bacteria. What matters most is how your child looks.

Author

Dr. Erica Wang, Texas Children’s Pediatrics – Grand Parkway

Departments

Texas Children’s Pediatrics

Fevers – Toddlers and Teens (2-18 years)

You’re not alone – we all fear the dreaded fever. It’s typically the first sign that something is going on with our kiddo and we rush around, grabbing all the medicine, preparing for the worst. Let’s start instead by congratulating our love’s immune system for doing its job and see how this plays out.

Fevers are caused by:

Illnesses (viral or bacterial)
Vaccinations
Overheating
Certain medications
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What is a normal temperature for kids?

As a whole, our body temperature can range quite a bit throughout the day. It is lowest in the morning and highest in the late afternoon. A normal rectal temperature reading can range from 96.8℉ to 100.3℉ (average of 98.6℉). A normal oral temperature reading can range from 95. 8℉ to 99.9℉ (average of 97.6℉).

When is a fever too high for a child?

For our kids who are 2-18 years old, we can let their fever hit 104℉ before we start to worry. You don’t even need to medicate them before they hit the 102-103℉ mark! If they are uncomfortable, you may give them Tylenol or ibuprofen, but otherwise it’s okay to let that fever get rid of the virus for them. No aspirin for any children under the age of 18. Keep your kiddo hydrated and make sure she’s not overdressed or lying in a pile of blankets.

It is a common misconception that we must rotate Tylenol and ibuprofen, but choosing just one is actually preferred. If the one you chose does not bring the fever down 2-3 ℉ within an hour, you may switch to the other medication. Our biggest concern is accidentally overdosing our kids – the less we give, the less we need to worry!

How to take temperature?

Two to four year olds: Temporal artery temperature, armpit (axillary) temperature, ear (tympanic) temperature, or rectal. If you’re ever questioning the results, rectal is the most accurate when in doubt. Axillary is the least accurate and not recommended.

Four years and beyond: All of the above will work for this age but hopefully by now, they can hold a thermometer under their tongue for an oral reading. Again, axillary is the least accurate. Rectal readings should be a distant memory for them now (and you, Mom and Dad!), thank the heavens.

Call your pediatrician if:

Temperature goes higher than 104℉
Any fever present more than 3 days
Your kiddo is lethargic
You notice signs of dehydration (dry mouth, no tears, no urinating >8 hrs)
Burning or pain with urination
Fever is accompanied by other symptoms that concern you (ear pain, vomiting, diarrhea)
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When to go to the ER with fever?

Difficulty breathing
Disoriented/confused
Seizures
Stiff neck
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When is a fever dangerous?

A truly dangerous fever is >108℉ and is extremely rare, only seen in situations such as a heat wave. However, all fevers >105℉ should be investigated with a doctor. That said, less than 1% of fevers go higher than 105℉.

How to break a fever?

Rest, drink lots of fluids, and stay cool! Remember: that fever is on our side, fighting off our infections. So unless our child’s fever hits 103℉ as discussed, there is no ‘breaking’ necessary.

Are fevers contagious?

Not necessarily. If a virus is the reason your child has a fever, then yes, they are considered contagious. But as discussed in the beginning here, vaccines or overdressing can also cause a fever – not contagious. And there are plenty of illnesses that may NOT cause a fever, so in general, don’t use fever as your guide on whether or not it can be spread to others.

Keep in mind that how your kiddo is behaving is always more important than the actual number on your Kinsa thermometer. Follow your gut if you feel like something is wrong, but otherwise don’t be afraid to let your kiddo’s immune system be the champion!

Is temperature up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit dangerous?

According to All Children’s Hospital, a temperature of 100 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit is normal when someone is fighting an infection. When the temperature rises above 102 F, it is usually recommended to take antipyretic drugs to ease comfort.

According to All Children’s Hospital, fever should be reduced by 2 to 3 degrees when medication is used to treat fever. Once body temperature reaches 108 F, brain damage can occur. However, this temperature is never reached due to infection or fever. The high body temperature needed to cause permanent damage only comes from extreme environmental conditions, such as a child locked in a closed car in hot weather.

Temperature minimums and maximums – temakashin — LiveJournal

What’s the weather like? And in +50°C and -50°C, and even in a larger range, you can live, in principle. Air conditioners, fans and jackets will help us with this. Well, someone, of course, will die and nothing can be done about it, because we do not live in a terrarium.

What is the lowest air temperature ever recorded on Earth?

The lowest air temperature on Earth was recorded at the Soviet Antarctic station “Vostok” on July 21, 1983, when the platinum thermometer at the meteorological site showed -89.2°С. This is the lowest temperature in the history of meteorological observations.

The lowest temperature recorded in our country is -78°С. Incredible frost took place in the upper reaches of the Indigirka River.

The lowest air temperature in the habitable regions of the planet was recorded on 1964 in Yakutia in the village of Oymyakon – -71.1 ° С. The entire interfluve of the upper reaches of the Yana and Indigirka rivers is considered to be the region of the cold pole of the Northern Hemisphere.

What is the highest air temperature ever recorded on Earth?

The highest temperature on Earth recorded in Libya in 1922 is +57. 8°С.

The highest soil temperature was recorded at Shurchi station in Uzbekistan. The temperature of irrigated light gray soils here reaches 79°C. At the Repetek station in Turkmenistan, the sand is heated to 77°C.

What is the maximum outdoor temperature a person can withstand?

For a short time, a person can be in dry air at very high temperatures. A person can tolerate a temperature of 160°C. This was proved by the English physicists Blagden and Chantry, who conducted an experiment on themselves. A person can tolerate a temperature of 104°C for 26 minutes, 93°C for 33 minutes, 82°C for 49 minutes, and 71°C for 1 hour; This was established in the course of experiments with healthy human volunteers.

What is the minimum outdoor temperature a person can withstand?

It depends on the state of his health and clothing, but most importantly – on the speed of the wind. In Yakutia in winter, people spend hours in the cold, with air temperatures below -50 ° C, but they are appropriately dressed, and in the conditions of the central part of the Siberian anticyclone, wind is usually observed.