Pueblo Pediatrics - Caring for Kids: Fever Management

	Fever is a rise in the body temperature to 101° Fahrenheit or greater
	Fever is the body's natural response to a viral or bacterial infection
	Fever is considered beneficial to help the body fight infection and usually not dangerous
	Feeling your child's forehead, face, or stomach may help to decide if he has a fever, but is not very accurate unless the fever is fairly high
	Taking a temperature is the only sure way to know if your child has a fever. Normal body temperatures may go up in the late afternoon or early morning. Mercury thermometers (the old glass thermometers) are no longer recommended due to the potential for mercury and glass exposure. Call the clinic
	If your baby less than 6 months of age has a temperature 101° F or higher
	If your child's fever is 104° or higher
	If your child has other signs of illness see the illness section of www.kidsgrowth.com or www.kidshealth.com.

Treating a Fever

Without medications

	If your child has a fever yet is content, eating, drinking, or playing he may not need medication
	Dress him in lightweight clothing or remove clothing to allow heat loss through the skin
	Use a lightweight blanket if he feels cold or is shivering
	Try to keep your child quiet - activity increases body temperature
	Give your child extra fluids to prevent dehydration or extra loss of water (water, iced drinks, popsicles, Jello, juices, or whatever he will drink)

With medications

Medication is only needed to make your child more comfortable

Give Acetaminophen (Tylenol/Tempra/Liquiprin/Panedol) every 4 hours

If your health care provider orders lbuprofen (Pediaprofen/Motrin /Advil), give it every 6-8 hours

Do not use Aspirin for fever (it has been related to a serious illness, Reye's Syndrome)

Always give your child medication for fever if he has had febrile seizure (seizures when your child has a fever)

Give your child a sponge bath with lukewarm water only (no cold water) if fever is higher than 104° F and fever is not decreased 30-60 minutes after medication is given-- NEVER LEAVE HIM ALONE IN THE TUB

Stop the sponge bath if your child starts to shiver. Never use rubbing alcohol for baths or sponging

Alcohol can cool your child too quickly and can be absorbed through the skin causing alcohol poisoning

Information courtesy: Children's Hospital of Iowa

Please Note:

We do not routinely recommend cold medications to infants under four months of age.

We do not recommend combination medications such as Tylenol cold or Motrin cold and flu because you often will need cold medications for a longer period of time than you will need a fever reducer.

If you require a fever medication such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin/Advil (Ibuprofen) for more than three days, please call the office.

We do not routinely recommend Tylenol for teething. If you feel that your child needs medication for comfort give it at bedtime only.

Our South Gilbert Office
is open

Map to our Office locations
Click here for our Mesa location
Click Here for Pictures of our South Gilbert Office
Click here for the site map of the South Gilbert office

Our South Gilbert Office is
in the Medical Plaza at Spectrum
3493 South Mercy Road
Willis Rd is now Mercy Rd.

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Link to:
Map to Our Office Locations

Telephone: 480-732-0044
Fax: 480-732-0641

If you are traveling outside of Maricopa County
Call our Toll Free Number
1-877-220-0253

2152 S. Vineyard, Suite 129

Mesa, Arizona 85210

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