When is an infants temp too high

For older kids, take behavior and activity level into account. Watching how your child behaves will give you a pretty good idea of whether a minor illness is the cause or if your child should be seen by a doctor.

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 still drink and urinate pee normally, not eating as much as usual is OK.

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

Use a reliable digital thermometer to confirm a fever. It's a fever when a child's temperature is at or above one of these levels:. But how high a fever is doesn't tell you much about how sick your child is. Because fevers can rise and fall, a child might have chills as the body's temperature begins to rise. The child may sweat to release extra heat as the temperature starts to drop.

Sometimes kids with a fever breathe faster than usual and may have a faster heart rate. Call the doctor if your child has trouble breathing, is breathing faster than normal, or is still breathing fast after the fever comes down. Again, not all fevers need to be treated. In most cases, a fever should be treated only if it's causing a child discomfort. If your child is fussy or uncomfortable, you can give acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on the package recommendations for age or weight.

Unless instructed by a doctor, never give aspirin to a child due to its association with Reye syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease. If you don't know the recommended dose or your child is younger than 2 years old, call the doctor to find out how much to give.

Infants younger than 2 months old should not be given any medicine for fever without being checked by a doctor.

If your child has any medical problems, check with the doctor to see which medicine is best to use. Remember that fever medicine can temporarily bring a temperature down, but usually won't return it to normal — and it won't treat the underlying reason for the fever.

Dress your child in lightweight clothing and cover with a light sheet or blanket. Overdressing and overbundling can prevent body heat from escaping and can cause the temperature to rise. While some parents use lukewarm sponge baths to lower fever, this method only helps temporarily, if at all. In fact, sponge baths can make kids uncomfortable. Offer plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration because fevers make kids lose fluids more rapidly than usual.

Most fevers are caused by infections or other illnesses. The high body temperature makes it more difficult for the bacteria and viruses that cause infections to survive. Your child's temperature can also be raised after vaccinations, or if they overheat because of too much bedding or clothing.

Complete this guide to assess fever symptoms in babies and children under 2 years of age. Return to Symptoms. Next Review Date:. If your child has a fever, it's important to keep them hydrated by giving them plenty of cool water to drink.

Babies should be given plenty of liquids, such as breast milk or formula. Even if your child isn't thirsty, try to get them to drink little and often to keep their fluid levels up.

If the environment is warm, you could help to your child to stay at a comfortable temperature by covering them with a lightweight sheet or opening a window. However, they should still be appropriately dressed for their surroundings and sponging your child with cool water isn't recommended to reduce a fever. Children's paracetamol or ibuprofen work as antipyretics, which help to reduce fever, as well as being painkillers.

You can't give them both at the same time, but if one doesn't work, you may want to try the other later. Antipyretics aren't always necessary. If your child isn't distressed by the fever or underlying illness, there's no need to use antipyretics to reduce a fever. A high temperature can lead to a child being very unwell quickly.

It's important to get medical help if you need it. Page last reviewed: 21 December Next review due: 21 December High temperature fever in children. What is a high temperature? Information: A normal temperature in babies and children is about A high temperature is 38C or more.

Place the thermometer inside the top of the armpit. Gently close the arm over the thermometer and keep it pressed to the side of the body. Leave the thermometer in place for as long as it says in the instruction leaflet.