what temp should you go to the hospital

All kids get a fever from fourth dimension to time. A fever itself usually causes no harm and tin can actually be a good matter ��� information technology's ofttimes a sign that the body is fighting an infection.

But when your child wakes in the centre of the night flushed, hot, and sweaty, information technology's easy to exist unsure of what to do next. Should you get out the thermometer? Call the doctor?

Here'southward more about fevers, including when to contact your doctor.

What Is a Fever?

Fever happens when the torso's internal "thermostat" raises the body temperature above its normal level. This thermostat is found in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus knows what temperature your body should be (usually around 98.6��F/37��C) and will transport messages to your torso to go along it that manner.

Most people's torso temperatures change a little chip during the grade of the solar day: Information technology's usually a piffling lower in the morning and a piddling college in the evening and can vary as kids run around, play, and exercise.

Sometimes, though, the hypothalamus volition "reset" the torso to a higher temperature in response to an infection, illness, or another crusade. Why? Researchers believe that turning up the heat is a mode for the body to fight the germs that cause infections, making it a less comfortable place for them.

What Causes Fevers?

It's important to remember that fever by itself is not an illness ��� it's unremarkably a sign or symptom of another problem.

Fevers can be acquired by a few things, including:

Infection: Most fevers are caused by infection or other illness. A fever helps the torso fight infections past stimulating natural defence force mechanisms.

Overdressing: Infants, particularly newborns, may get fevers if they're overbundled or in a hot environment because they don't regulate their body temperature equally well equally older kids. But because fevers in newborns tin indicate a serious infection, even infants who are overdressed must be checked by a dr. if they have a fever.

Immunizations: Babies and kids sometimes become a low-grade fever later getting vaccinated.

Although teething may crusade a slight rise in body temperature, it's probably not the cause if a child'southward temperature is higher than 100��F (37.8��C).

When Is a Fever a Sign of Something Serious?

In healthy kids, not all fevers need to be treated. High fever, though, can brand a child uncomfortable and make issues (such every bit dehydration) worse.

Doctors decide on whether to treat a fever by because both the temperature and a kid'due south overall status.

Kids whose temperatures are lower than 102��F (38.nine��C) often don't need medicine unless they're uncomfortable. There's one important exception: If an infant three months or younger has a rectal temperature of 100.four��F (38��C) or higher, phone call your doctor or get to the emergency section immediately. Even a slight fever can be a sign of a potentially serious infection in very young babies.

If your child is between 3 months and 3 years old and has a fever of 102.ii��F (39��C) or higher, phone call to run across if your doctor needs to encounter your child. For older kids, take beliefs and action level into account. Watching how your kid behaves volition give yous a pretty good idea of whether a minor affliction is the cause or if your child should be seen by a doc.

The disease is probably non serious if your child:

• is still interested in playing
• is eating and drinking well
• is alert and grin at you
• has a normal peel color
• looks well when his or her temperature comes down

And don't worry too much about a child with a fever who doesn't want to eat. This is very common with infections that cause fever. For kids who nevertheless drink and urinate (pee) unremarkably, not eating as much as usual is OK.

Is it a Fever?

A gentle osculation on the forehead or a hand placed lightly on the skin is often enough to requite you a hint that your kid has a fever. However, this method of taking a temperature (called tactile temperature) won't give an accurate measurement.

Employ a reliable digital thermometer to confirm a fever. Information technology's a fever when a kid's temperature is at or above 1 of these levels:

• measured orally (in the mouth): 100��F (37.eight��C)
• measured rectally (in the lesser): 100.iv��F (38��C)
• measured in an axillary position (under the arm): 99��F (37.ii��C)

But how loftier a fever is doesn't tell you much near how sick your kid is. A simple cold or other viral infection tin can sometimes cause a rather loftier fever (in the 102�����104��F/38.9�����40��C range), simply this doesn't ordinarily hateful in that location's a serious trouble. In fact, a serious infection, especially in infants, might cause no fever or fifty-fifty a low body temperature (below 97��F or 36.1��C).

Because fevers can ascent and fall, a kid might accept chills as the torso's temperature begins to rise. The child may sweat to release extra heat equally the temperature starts to drop.

Sometimes kids with a fever breathe faster than usual and may have a faster heart charge per unit. Call the doctor if your child has problem breathing, is animate faster than normal, or is still animate fast after the fever comes down.

How Can I Help My Kid Feel Better?

Over again, not all fevers need to be treated. In most cases, a fever should be treated only if information technology'south causing a child discomfort.

Here are ways to ease symptoms that often back-trail a fever:

Medicines

If your child is fussy or uncomfortable, you tin give acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on the package recommendations for age or weight. (Unless instructed past a dr., never give aspirin to a child due to its association with Reye syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal illness.) If you don't know the recommended dose or your child is younger than 2 years old, phone call the medico to find out how much to requite.

Infants younger than ii months sometime should not exist given any medicine for fever without being checked by a dr.. If your kid has any medical problems, check with the medico to see which medicine is best to utilise. Remember that fever medicine can temporarily bring a temperature downward, but usually won't render it to normal ��� and it won't treat the underlying reason for the fever.

Dwelling Comfort Measures

Dress your child in lightweight clothing and cover with a low-cal sail or blanket. Overdressing and overbundling can preclude torso heat from escaping and can crusade the temperature to rise.

Make sure your child's bedroom is a comfortable temperature ��� not too hot or too cold.

While some parents use lukewarm sponge baths to lower fever, this method but helps temporarily, if at all. In fact, sponge baths tin can make kids uncomfortable. Never apply rubbing booze (it tin can cause poisoning when absorbed through the skin) or water ice packs/cold baths (they can cause chills that can raise body temperature).

Nutrient and Drinks

Offer plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration because fevers make kids lose fluids more rapidly than usual. Water, soup, water ice pops, and flavored gelatin are all good choices. Avoid drinks with caffeine, including colas and tea, because they can make aridity worse by increasing urination (peeing).

If your child also is airsickness and/or has diarrhea, ask the medico if you should requite an electrolyte (rehydration) solution fabricated particularly for kids. Yous can detect these at drugstores and supermarkets. Don't offer sports drinks ��� they're not made for younger children and the added sugars tin make diarrhea worse. Also, limit your child'southward intake of fruits and apple juice.

In full general, let kids swallow what they desire (in reasonable amounts), simply don't forcefulness it if they don't feel like it.

Taking it Easy

Make sure your child gets plenty of rest. Staying in bed all day isn't necessary, simply a ill child should have it like shooting fish in a barrel.

It's best to keep a child with a fever home from school or childcare. Most doctors experience that it'due south safe to return when the temperature has been normal for 24 hours.

When Should I Call the Physician?

The verbal temperature that should trigger a call to the medico depends on a kid's historic period, the illness, and whether in that location are other symptoms with the fever.

Telephone call your doctor if you lot take an:

• infant younger than 3 months sometime with a rectal temperature of 100.iv��F (38��C) or higher
• older child with a temperature of higher than 102.two��F (39��C)

Also phone call if an older child has a fever of lower than 102.2��F (39��C) but too:

• refuses fluids or seems too ill to drink fairly
• has lasting diarrhea or repeated airsickness
• has any signs of dehydration (peeing less than usual, not having tears when crying, less alert and less active than usual)
• has a specific complaint (similar a sore pharynx or earache)
• yet has a fever afterward 24 hours (in kids younger than 2 years old) or 72 hours (in kids 2 years or older)
• is getting fevers a lot, fifty-fifty if they only concluding a few hours each night
• has a chronic medical problem, such as eye disease, cancer, lupus, or sickle prison cell disease
• has a rash
• has pain while peeing

Get emergency care if your kid shows whatever of these signs:

• crying that won't stop
• extreme irritability or fussiness
• languor and trouble waking up
• a rash or purple spots that look like bruises on the pare (that were not there before your child got sick)
• blue lips, tongue, or nails
• babe'due south soft spot on the head seems to exist bulging out or sunken in
• stiff neck
• severe headache
• limpness or refusal to motion
• problem breathing that doesn't go better when the nose is cleared
• leaning forrad and drooling
• seizure
• moderate to severe belly pain

Likewise, ask if your doctor has specific guidelines on when to call about a fever.

What Else Should I Know?

All kids get fevers, and in well-nigh cases they're completely back to normal within a few days. For older babies and kids, the way they act tin can exist more than of import than the reading on your thermometer. Everyone gets a niggling cranky when they have a fever. This is normal and should be expected.

But if you're ever in uncertainty well-nigh what to exercise or what a fever might mean, or if your kid is acting ill in a fashion that concerns you even if there's no fever, e'er call your doctor for advice.

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Source: https://kidshealth.org/Nemours/en/parents/fever.html

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