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Pediatrics

Fever in children

A temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or more is a fever. Most fevers in children are caused by viral infections and settle in 2 to 3 days. How the child is behaving matters more than the number on the thermometer.

Draft: awaiting review by Dr. Amit Shah.

At home

  • Give paracetamol only in the dose your doctor gave for your child’s weight
  • Plenty of fluids and light clothing
  • Do not give aspirin, do not sponge with cold water, and do not start antibiotics on your own

See the doctor if

  • Fever for more than 2 to 3 days
  • Not drinking, or passing much less urine
  • Ear pain, a rash, or burning while passing urine
  • During monsoon: fever with body ache, vomiting or stomach pain, since dengue and malaria are common

Go to a hospital or call 108 now if:

  • Any fever in a baby under 3 months
  • A fit (convulsion)
  • Fast or difficult breathing
  • Very drowsy or hard to wake
  • A rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass
  • Bleeding from gums or nose, or black stools

At the clinic

The doctor examines the child to find the cause, and orders blood tests only when they will change the treatment. Bring a note of the temperatures and the medicines already given.