Fever
A fever is any temperature greater than 100 (measured in the arm pit). Most of the time fevers are not dangerous(read below for when to be concerned). They don't cause brain damage. They are simply a symptom of an infection. If anything, they help in the infection process and are often our first clue that there is an infection going on. A fever in a child over 2 months old is not concerning as long as the child is doing well (breathing, drinking, and urinating well). Viral infections are infections that do not respond to antibiotics. Viral infections can cause fevers that can last 3-4 days, and as long as your child is doing well, we can watch, wait and see what other symptoms develop. If your child's symptoms become worse and you are concerned that they are getting lethargic, dehydrated, or are having any difficulty breathing, they should be evaluated. The symptoms help us understand where the infection is coming from and what would be the best way to treat it. A fever in a child under 2 months old is a very different story. An older child with a serious infection will usually look seriously ill. This is not necessarily true for a baby under 2 months old. They can have a very serious and even dangerous infection and only show minimal signs. Therefore, the rule with babies under 2 months old is that that if they have any temperature above 100 degrees in the armpit (or rectal temperature greater than 100.5 degrees), we should be notified immediately, even if it is in the middle of the night. A fever in a newborn is considered to be serious until proven otherwise. After they are 2 months old we do not get nearly as worried about it if everything else looks good, and the fever doesn't last longer than 3-4 days.
No tylenol until 2 months. |