Fever in Children

Fevers in kids are incredibly common. ¹ In most cases, they aren’t cause for alarm. ¹ In fact, a fever can be a good sign, showing that a child’s natural defenses are working to combat infection. ² In some cases, though, like with an infant, a fever should always be taken more seriously. Learn how to recognize a fever in your child, what may cause it, how to help them through it and how to know if you need to seek more help.

What Is a Fever?

Fever occurs when body temperature is abnormally high. ^1,2,3,4,5 Our body temperature naturally fluctuates based on several factors, including activity, environment, emotions and even time of day. ^1,2,3 The average normal body temperature is 98.6°F, but going a little above or below that is typical. ^1,2,3 The normal range is around 97-99°F. ⁴

This temperature can rise into the feverish range when the body is fighting an infection. ^1,3,4 That’s why the presence of a fever, while perhaps not fun for the child who has it, can be a positive sign that their immune system is properly defending against a virus or bacteria. ^1,2,3,4

What Causes Fever in Children?

The most common cause of fevers in children are viral infections, such as a cold, RSV or Covid. ⁴ The second leading cause of fever in kids is a bacterial infection, such as pneumonia or an ear infection. ⁴ Fevers can also be caused by environmental factors, like room temperature or activity, and some children experience fever for one or two days after immunizations. ^3,5

How Do I Know if My Child Has a Fever?

Determining whether a child has a fever can be especially tricky because different types of thermometers provide varying levels of accuracy, with rectal thermometers being the most accurate (though they may not be tolerated after a certain age and some people aren’t comfortable using them). ^1,2,3,4,5

Here is a guide for when your child has a fever, based on how you’re taking their temperature: ³

• Rectal thermometer: 100.4°F
• Oral thermometer: 99.5°F
• Under-the-arm thermometer: 99°F

When Should I Be Concerned About My Child’s Fever?

While many fevers don’t warrant concern, here are the signs to look for according to your child’s age: ¹

Newborn to Three Months

If your child is an infant under three months of age, any fever is reason to call your doctor. ^1,2,3,4,5 Since a newborn’s immune system may not have developed enough to fight off infection, any sign of fever requires medical attention. ^1,2,3,4,5

Three Months to One Year Old

In infants three months to one year old, fevers should also be treated with extra care. ^1,5 For infants between three months and one year old, seek medical attention if it is over 102.4°F, lasts more than twenty-four hours or is accompanied by any of these signs: ⁵

• Fever returning after being gone twenty-four hours
• Trouble breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Isn’t moving
• Isn’t waking up
• Cries with every touch
• Chills for more than thirty minutes
• Purple or blood-colored spots on the skin
• Signs of dehydration, including no urine for eight hours, very dark urine or little to no spit or tears
• Blue nails, lips or tongue
• Seizure

One Year or Older

For children one year or older, medical attention is required if the fever is over 104°F, lasts more than three days or is accompanied by any of these other symptoms: ^1,2,3,4,5

• Listlessness or confusion, with little or no eye contact
• Continuous vomiting
• Severe headache, sore throat, stomachache or discomfort
• A new rash or bruising
• Has blue nails, lips or tongue
• Won’t move one or more limbs
• Pain with urination
• Seizure
• Isn’t able to stop crying
• Fever isn’t coming down with fever reducers

How Do I Treat a Child with a Fever?

Most fevers in children will resolve themselves within a few days, but we can still work to keep children comfortable in the meantime. ¹ Here are the dos and don’ts of treating your child’s fever. ^1,2,3,4,5

Do

• Encourage your child to rest
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate
• For children six months and older, give them acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help reduce fever and relieve discomfort
• Soothe them with a cool compress
• Provide food, if the child is hungry

Don’t

• Place your child in a cold bath, as this can cause the body to shiver, raising the internal temperature
• Turn up the heat or cover your child in heavy blankets
• Give medicine to children six months or younger without guidance from a medical professional

Fevers simply can’t be avoided in children, and they are most often a healthy response to infection. ^1,2,3,4 When you need to treat your child’s fever, you can trust Children’s Advil. It reduces fevers faster ⁶ and longer than Children’s Tylenol. To quickly discover the right medicine for your child, use Advil’s Relief Finder.