Fever and Temperature Taking

Medication is not always needed to reduce a child's temperature. When your child is sick with an infection (bacterial or viral), it's common to also have a fever, which will not hurt your child and usually goes away after 72 hours (3 days). Babies younger than 6 months old should always see a doctor when they have a fever; older children can be treated at home as long as they get enough liquids and seem well otherwise, though they should see a doctor if the fever lasts more than 72 hours.

Temperature-taking tips

• Do not use a mercury thermometer — if it breaks, you might be exposed to a toxic substance.
• Do not use an oral thermometer to take a rectal temperature, or a rectal thermometer for oral temperature taking.
• A digital thermometer can be used for both rectal and oral temperature taking — it's unbreakable plastic, easy to read, and measures temperature quickly.
• Products for taking temporal artery temperature (sweeping a thermometer across the forehead) at home are not accurate or reliable enough.
• Fever strips are not recommended because they do not give accurate readings.

Taking a rectal temperature

The rectal method is the most reliable way to ensure a fever is not missed.

• Clean the thermometer with cool, soapy water and rinse.
• Cover the silver tip with petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline).
• Place your baby on his back with his knees bent.
• Gently insert the thermometer about 2.5 cm (1 inch) into the rectum, holding it in place with your fingers.
• Wait for the beep, remove the thermometer and read the temperature.
• Clean the thermometer afterwards.

The degree of a fever does not tell you how serious your child's illness is — how your child is acting is usually a better sign. A child with a mild infection can have a high fever, while a child with a severe infection might have no fever at all.

What can I do if my child has a fever?

Keep your child comfortable and offer plenty of fluids. Remove extra blankets and clothing so heat can leave the body and help lower the temperature, but don't remove all your child's clothes — she may become too cold and start shivering, which raises body heat again. Sponging with lukewarm water, alcohol baths and rubs are not recommended.

The best reason for giving your child medicine is not to reduce the fever itself, but to relieve any aches and pains. Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol, Tempra, Panadol) is a suitable medication — unless your doctor says otherwise, give the recommended dose every 4 hours until the temperature comes down; it usually comes down within an hour and may rise again, in which case the dose can be repeated at the recommended time. Do not give more than 5 doses in 24 hours.

Alternatively, ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) can be given every 6 to 8 hours, up to 4 times in a 24-hour period — follow package directions and don't exceed the recommended dose. Ibuprofen should only be given if your child is drinking reasonably well, and should not be given to babies under 6 months without first talking to your doctor. Do not alternate between acetaminophen and ibuprofen, as this can lead to dosing errors.

A child or teenager with a fever should never be given aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid/ASA). If the fever is due to chickenpox, influenza or certain other viral infections, aspirin can increase the risk of Reye's syndrome — a very serious condition that can damage the liver and brain.

Contact your health care provider if your child

• Has a fever and is less than 6 months old.
• Has a fever for more than 72 hours.
• Is excessively cranky, fussy or irritable.
• Is excessively sleepy, lethargic or unresponsive.
• Is persistently wheezing or coughing.
• Has a fever combined with a rash or any other signs of illness that worry you.