Check Your Symptoms

Home Treatment

It can be hard to know whether you should call your doctor when your child has a fever, especially during the cold and flu season. The degree of the fever may not be related to the seriousness of the illness. The way your child looks and acts is a better guide than the thermometer. Most children will be less active when they have a fever.

If your child is comfortable and alert, is eating well, is drinking enough fluids, is urinating normal amounts, and seems to be improving, home treatment without medicine is all that is needed for a fever. If you are not able to measure your child's temperature, look for other symptoms of illness and follow these home treatment measures.

• Encourage your child to drink extra fluids or suck on flavored ice pops, such as a Popsicle. Your child should be urinating at least every 6 to 8 hours.
• Dress your child lightly, and do not wrap him or her in blankets. Dressing lightly will help your child's body cool down.

Keep your child comfortable

Lowering your child's temperature is important when the fever is causing discomfort. If your child is uncomfortable:

• Try giving your child a sponge bath with lukewarm water. Do not use cold water, ice, or rubbing alcohol.
• Encourage quiet activities.
• Watch for signs of dehydration. These include your child being thirstier than usual and having darker urine than usual.

Symptoms to watch for during home treatment

Call your child's doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment:

• Your child's temperature gets higher, and he or she appears sicker than before.
• You suspect that your child has an extremely high fever.
• Home treatment is not making your child feel better.
• There is a significant decrease in your child's activity level or level of consciousness, or your child acts confused or struggles with you for no reason.
• Signs of dehydration develop. These include your child being thirstier than usual and having darker urine than usual.
• Pain develops, or the pain becomes more severe.
• Symptoms become more severe or frequent.