Fever

Fever is usually a sign of infection. More important than the height of the fever is the cause of the fever. The initial management of fever is Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra, etc.). Do not give aspirin unless specifically advised by your physician. Ibuprofen may be used in children older than 6 months. Please call your physician for suggested doses for Ibuprofen. The dosage chart for acetaminophen follows this section on our web site.

Children who have fever without a known cause, especially if accompanied by persistent vomiting, should be seen by the physician. Call the office and discuss the child’s condition.

Infants under 2 months of age with even a low grade fever are of special concern. Of course, extreme drowsiness or irritability and poor feeding even in the absence of fever warrants an examination.

Seizures: A small percentage of children will have a tendency to have seizures with a rapid rise in temperature. They are generally brief, lasting 3 to 5 minutes. Brief seizures are often accompanied by much rattling in the throat and some blueness but are not considered dangerous. Do not put objects in the child’s mouth. Lay the child on one side with his head lower than his hips. Apply cold cloths to the head. Sponge the entire body with tepid water. Give nothing by mouth. Call the office immediately. If the child is not breathing or the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, call 911.

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