Do You Know When to Seek Medical Attention for a Fever?

It’s 2 a.m. and your toddler wakes up for the second time tonight complaining of a stomach ache. You reach down to kiss her forehead and notice that she’s burning up. What do you do? No matter your scenario, dealing with a high fever (especially in a child) can be scary and confusing. Fevers, also known as Pyrexia, are very common. They’re the body’s natural reaction to fighting off an illness. While many cases don’t necessarily require a trip to the doctor, it’s important to know when to seek medical attention for a fever.

What is a Fever?

A normal body temperature is 98.6 F although factors such as menstrual cycles or heavy exercising can affect a “normal” body temperature. When your body experiences an increased body temperature, that means it’s on the defense against some sort of infection or illness. As defined by the Mayo Clinic, a fever occurs when an area in your brain called the hypothalamus — also known as your body’s “thermostat” — shifts the set point of your normal body temperature upward.

What Causes a Fever

Sometimes the cause of a fever cannot be identified, but a few common reasons include:

• virus
• bacterial infection
• heat exhaustion
• extreme sunburn
• certain inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis
• medication reactions

When to Seek Medical Attention for a Fever in Adults?

We’ve all experienced symptoms of a fever: the fatigue, the chills, the body aches, night sweats… the list is exhausting. Sometimes it’s tough to tell when to seek medical attention for a fever and when to just “tough it out.” But for adults, a temperature taken orally that is higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (101 degrees or higher for ear or rectal temperatures) is considered a fever. For adults, usually an over the counter medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, will help to lower a high fever. But if the fever elevates to 103 degrees Fahrenheit, lasts longer than three days or is accompanied by other symptoms such as sore throat, confusion, sharp stomach pain or severe headache, it’s time to take a trip to urgent care.

When to Seek Medical Attention for a Fever During Pregnancy?

Mild fevers that last only a short time usually are not a concern but a high fever during early pregnancy could be dangerous for a baby’s fragile development. Expecting mothers should take note of any additional symptoms including shortness of breath, back pain, chills, abdominal pain or neck stiffness and contact their doctor for proper treatment right away.

When to Seek Medical Attention for a Fever in Children?

No matter how careful you are, every child will eventually experience a fever at some point. For the purpose of this section, we’ll define child as 3 months to 3 years of age or up. A fever can’t always be detected by feeling your child’s forehead. Similar to adults, a fever is defined as 100.4 F. But if your child’s behavior is fairly normal (eating, drinking, sleeping, playing) and has a low-grade fever (102.5 F or less) lasting less than five days, you don’t need to be too concerned. Now for the important question: When should you seek medical attention for a fever in your child?

• Your child’s fever lasts more than five days.
• The fever elevates to 104 F.
• Fever reducers are not helping.
• The child has signs of dehydration.
• You’re concerned.
• Your infant, younger than 3 months of age, develops a fever.

When to Seek Medical Attention for a Fever in Infants?

Infants are much more sensitive to high body temperature and fevers have to be taken very seriously. If your infant is younger than three months, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises a trip to the doctor for temperatures of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The best way to get an accurate temperature reading for infants is with a rectal thermometer. For older children, under arm, oral or tympanic thermometers are accurate and easy to use.

Fever Treatment at eMedical Urgent Care

Never hesitate to seek medical attention for a fever if you are concerned. When your child becomes ill, choosing the right medical provider is important; eMedical Urgent Care makes it easy to get the help you need, from pediatric health services to treating sinus infections in adults. Call to learn more about our services in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, (908) 464-6700, and Middletown, New Jersey, (732) 957-0707.

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when to be concerned about a fever

4/12/23

blog post

Fevers can be a common occurrence in early childhood. By the time your child turns one, it’s likely you’ve experienced one or two instances where they ran a fever. While fevers may seem scary to parents, the good news is that a fever isn’t necessarily a bad thing. They’re an indication that your kiddo’s body is hard at work fighting against germs! Learn more about fevers, why they happen, how to help your child and when to be concerned about a fever.  

what are the common causes of a fever? 

Fevers often happen when a child has an infection or other illness. A fever helps the body stimulate the immune system to fight the infection or illness. Experts believe turning up the heat makes the body a less comfortable place for germs that cause illness. 

what’s the best way to check my child for fever? 
Today, there are many different options when it comes to thermometers and taking your child’s temperature. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has provided the following recommendations for the different methods of temperature-taking:

Taking an oral temperature:

• Wait 15 minutes after the child has been eating or drinking before taking a temperature.  
• Clean thermometer. 
• Turn the thermometer on and place the tip under the tongue toward the back of the child’s mouth. Hold in place for a minute until you hear a beep. 

Taking an axillary (armpit) temperature: 

• Turn on the thermometer and place the small end in your child’s armpit (thermometer should touch skin, not clothing). 
• Gently hold the arm in place until the thermometer beeps. 

Taking a forehead temperature:

• Forehead thermometers can be used on children of any age.
• Follow the instructions on the package for how to aim the sensor across your child’s forehead.
• Read your child’s temperature on the digital display screen.
• Using forehead thermometers outside in direct sunlight may affect readings.

Taking a tympanic (ear) temperature: 

The AAP advises against using this method for infants younger than 3 months. While a tympanic thermometer provides speedy results, the device needs to be inserted at the right angle in a child’s ear to provide an accurate reading. Don’t use these devices right after a child has been swimming, bathing or if ear pain is present. 

• Place a clean cover on the cone-shaped end. 
• Pull the ear backward slightly, and gently place the thermometer in the ear canal. Try to aim the probe toward the child’s eye on the opposite side of the head. 
• Turn on the thermometer; remove after it beeps.  

what can I do to treat a fever at home? 

When it comes to fever, treat the child and not the number. 

• If your child clearly isn’t feeling well and has a fever, you may treat it with Tylenol or Motrin based on their age and weight. 
• If they are active and playful, eating and drinking, and have a 101 fever, it is okay to just let the fever run its course and fight the illness that is triggering the response. 
• If the child has a history of febrile seizures, treat at the start of a fever to prevent quick rises and falls of temperature.  
• If the fever is over 104, treat it to bring it down into the 101-103 range to make them more comfortable. Treating a fever does not mean the temperature has to come back to 98.6 . It is ok if your child is still feverish. 

If your child has a fever, encourage a variety of fluids. Small and frequent sips of fluids will keep the child hydrated and feeling a bit better. Lukewarm baths can also be comforting to your child and may help reduce their temperature.  

when should I seek medical attention for my child’s fever? 

If your child has a fever: 

• Over 103 and is not responding to Motrin or Tylenol 
• Steady for more than 5 days 
• Not feeling better after fever improved with Motrin or Tylenol 
• Fever without cough or cold symptoms 
• Signs of dehydration (decreased wet diapers, not making tears when crying) 
• Increased work of breathing 

If your child’s pediatrician is unavailable, you can save your spot for a visit at one of Dayton Children’s four Kids Express locations in Beavercreek, Mason, Springboro or West Chester.

save your spot

When to worry about baby fever

Fever scares parents, especially when their baby is small and first. But what temperature indicates a fever, and when should parents really worry?

“Above all, parents need to know that no matter what they do, no matter how careful they are, the child will eventually develop a fever,” says pediatrician Dr. Tracey Lim of the Cleveland Westlake Hospital Medical Campus in Ohio. “Fever is the body’s normal response to infection and disease. “When it’s at a reasonable level, treatable with conventional antipyretics, and subsides quickly, they usually have nothing to worry about.”

So, when does a child get a fever? As a general rule, a temperature above 38 degrees Celsius is considered a fever. Temperatures up to 37.5 can be normal. Because it can “; Because in the first place, normal body temperature fluctuates throughout the day. In addition, it varies depending on age, activity level and other factors.

In practice, this means that in infants and toddlers ( under 2 years of age) a typical normal temperature is 37.5 degrees C. However, in older children it is around 37 (between 36.6 and 37.2) when you take their mouth temperature.

When not to worry

So if your child has a fever, stay calm – to a certain extent, of course. Dr. Lim says that a child’s fever is not a cause for concern if:

Lasts 3-4 days and does not affect the child. If the child’s behavior is almost normal, there is nothing to worry about. This means that he will play, eat and drink fluids as usual, although he may be more tired than usual. – Does not exceed 39 degrees Celsius between the ages of 3 months and 3 years. – Does not exceed 39.4 degrees Celsius in children older than 4 years. years is essentially “tenths”. “Tenths” in children (or, scientifically, low-grade fever) is a temperature between 37. 5 and 37.9 degrees Celsius. If, for example, a child is vaccinated, there is a “tithe” for a couple of days.

When should you have a fever?

On the contrary, Dr. Lim says you should call your pediatrician immediately:

A baby under 3 months old has a fever (38 degrees Celsius or more). An elevated temperature at this age may indicate a reaction to some serious illness. However, remember that especially in newborns, very low body temperature is a problem. Therefore, you should call the pediatrician even if the child’s temperature is below 36.5 degrees Celsius, especially if the measurement is taken correctly.

– The child has a fever for a long time (more than 3-4 days). The pediatrician may need to find out the underlying cause.

– Fever reaches 40 degrees.

– Fever not relieved by conventional antipyretics

Child not behaving normally. This may, for example, constantly want to sleep, not getting out of bed, or not drinking liquids. Dr. Lim points out that babies who don’t change at least four diapers a day are at risk of severe dehydration. The same is true for older children who do not urinate every 8-12 hours. The doctor should be informed about all this.

The child was vaccinated, the temperature rose above 38 degrees. Even if he has a fever for more than 48 hours, after vaccination you are worried for some reason. You know your child better than anyone. If you are concerned about his behavior, illness, or fever, talk to your pediatrician.

Source: iatropedia

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SHARES

Yellow Fever – Ethiopia

On March 3rd, 2020, the Ethiopian Institute of Public Health reported three cases of suspected yellow fever in Ynnemor-i-Yner district of the Gurage zone in the State of the Peoples of the South. The three identified patients belong to the same family (father, mother and son) and live in a rural settlement (kebele). Two of the three biomaterial samples were positively tested by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at the national laboratory, and subsequently, on March 28, 2020, the positive result was confirmed by the plaque neutralization test (PRN) at the regional reference laboratory Research Institute of Virology Uganda.

Following positive RT-PCR results, the Ethiopian Public Health Institute and the Ministry of Health, with the support of a number of partners, including WHO, conducted an in-depth investigation and took a number of anti-epidemic measures.

As of April 6, 2020, 85 suspected cases have been identified in the six kebels of Eunnamor-i-Üner district, of which 54 cases have been reported in Vedesha kebel. Six biomaterial samples taken from patients with suspected yellow fever were analyzed positively in the national laboratory at the Ethiopian Institute of Public Health and sent for confirmatory testing to the Uganda Research Institute of Virology.

Public health response

• Beginning March 8, 2020, an epidemiological and entomological investigation is underway in Eunnamor-i-Euner County.
• Vaccination activities have been promptly stepped up due to the outbreak. Between March 26 and March 31, 2020, a response vaccination campaign was conducted across the country to reach approximately 32,000 people in the affected and adjacent kebeles (12 kebeles in total).
• The country is currently reviewing a request from the International Coordinating Group for a larger scale response vaccination campaign.

WHO risk assessment

National risk assessed as high. The current outbreak in the Gurage zone in the State of the Peoples of the South exemplifies the intensification of the yellow fever outbreak in rural areas. The registration of a large number of suspected cases in a short period of time is of extreme concern, given the almost non-existent herd immunity in the population. The fact of confirmation of infection in non-travelers is also cause for concern. It indicates the presence of factors contributing to the increase in the incidence of yellow fever and its spread beyond existing foci.

Recent entomological surveys in addition to previous surveys in 2018 indicate the presence of competent vectors in the area, including mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, and the possibility of infection spreading to surrounding areas. The onset of the rainy season can lead to an increase in the density of vector mosquito populations, further increasing the risk of infection.

Persons returning to Ethiopia with potentially high blood levels of the virus may pose a risk of local yellow fever transmission cycles in competent vector habitats.

The last outbreak of yellow fever occurred in the State of the Peoples of the South in August 2018, when a total of 35 cases (30 suspected and 5 confirmed cases) were reported in the Walaitta zone of this state of Ethiopia. Immunizations have been carried out in parts of the Wolaitta Zone, but the population of the Gurage Zone remains vulnerable to yellow fever virus.

Regional risk is currently low due to low levels of population movement within and between countries due to measures introduced to combat COVID-19border crossing restrictions (air and land transport).

Global risk assessed as low by WHO.

WHO recommendations

Ethiopia is a high priority country for the Yellow Fever Elimination Strategy (EYE). The inclusion of yellow fever vaccination in the routine immunization program is scheduled for 2020. Vaccination is the main way to prevent and control yellow fever. In urban areas, targeted vector control measures also help to curb transmission of the virus. WHO and partners will continue to support local governments in implementing these responses to the current outbreak.

WHO recommends yellow fever vaccination for all foreigners over the age of nine months planning to travel to Ethiopia. In addition, Ethiopia requires a certificate of yellow fever vaccination for persons nine months of age or older arriving from countries where there is a risk of yellow fever transmission, and for persons who have been in airport transit for more than 12 hours. such a country. In general, WHO does not recommend vaccination for persons whose route is limited to the states of Afar and Somalia.

Yellow fever vaccination is safe, highly effective and provides lifelong protection. According to the third edition of the International Health Regulations (2005), an International Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is valid for the life of the vaccinated person. The introduction of a booster dose of the vaccine cannot be a condition for the entry of foreigners into the country.

WHO urges Member States to take all necessary measures to ensure that travelers are fully informed about the risks and preventive measures, including vaccination. Travelers should also be made aware of the symptoms and signs of yellow fever and urged to seek immediate medical attention if they develop signs of illness that suggest they may be infected with the yellow fever virus.

WHO has published guidelines for immunization activities during the COVID-19 pandemic and is developing specific practical recommendations for conducting mass vaccination campaigns during the spread of COVID-19. As soon as possible, the EYE strategy will assist countries to rapidly resume preventive yellow fever vaccination activities in line with WHO recommendations.

Based on the information available about this outbreak, WHO does not recommend that any travel or trade restrictions be placed on Ethiopia.