Fever, Age 3 and Younger

Home Treatment

It can be hard to know whether you should call your health professional when your child has a fever, especially during the cold and flu season. The degree of the fever may not be related to the seriousness of the illness. The way your child looks and acts is a better guide than the thermometer. Most children will be less active when they have a fever.

If your child is comfortable and alert, eating well, drinking enough fluids, urinating normal amounts, and seems to be improving, home treatment without medicine is all that is needed for a fever of 100°F (38°C) to 102°F (39°C). If you are not able to measure your child's temperature, look for other symptoms of illness and follow these home treatment measures.

• Encourage your child to drink extra fluids or suck on Popsicles. Your child should be urinating at least every 6 to 8 hours.
• Dress your child lightly, and do not wrap him or her in blankets. Dressing lightly will help your child's body cool down.

Keep your child comfortable

Lowering your child's temperature is important when the fever is causing discomfort. If the fever is higher than 102°F (39°C) and your child is uncomfortable:

Medicine you can buy without a prescription

Try a nonprescription medicine to help treat your child's fever or pain:
Acetaminophen, such as Tylenol or Panadol Ibuprofen, such as Motrin or Advil Talk to your child’s doctor before switching back and forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen to treat a fever. When you switch between two medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine.

Safety tips

Be sure to follow these safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine:

Carefully read and follow all labels on the medicine bottle and box. Give, but do not exceed, the maximum recommended doses. Do not give your child a medicine if he or she has had an allergic reaction to it in the past. Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than age 20 unless directed to do so by your child's doctor. Do not give naproxen sodium (such as Aleve) to children younger than age 12 unless your child's doctor tells you to.

• Try giving your child a sponge bath with lukewarm water. Do not use cold water, ice, or rubbing alcohol.
• Encourage quiet activities.
• Watch for signs of dehydration.

Symptoms to Watch For During Home Treatment

Use the Check Your Symptoms section to evaluate your child's symptoms if any of the following occur during home treatment:

• Your child's temperature gets higher and he or she appears sicker than before.
• You suspect your child has an extremely high fever.
• Home treatment is not making your child feel better.
• There is a significant decrease in your child's activity level or level of consciousness, or your child acts confused or struggles with you for no reason.
• Signs of dehydration develop.
• Pain develops or the pain becomes more severe.
• Fever lasts longer than 72 hours.
• Symptoms become more severe or frequent.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: April 24, 2007
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
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