A fever is a response to an invading infection -- usually viral, but sometimes bacterial. Some fevers disappear on their own, with no health complications. Others will require treatment, for managing the fever itself and the underlying condition when possible. Because not all fevers are equal, the medical profession categorizes them in grades, helping parents determine when they should seek medical assistance for their child.
Low-Grade Fevers
According to William Sears, MD, a pediatrician and proprietor of AskDrSears.com, a low-grade fever ranges from 99 to 100.9 degrees Fahrenheit. These fevers usually are not considered serious, do not require treatment and typically disappear on their own.
Common Fever
This type of fever, according to Dr. Sears, ranges from 101 to 103.5 degrees Fahrenheit. These also are usually not considered serious, unless there are accompanying symptoms. Parents can treat the fever with appropriate over-the-counter medications. If the fever persists for several days with a lack of other symptoms, parents should contact their child's pediatrician.
High Fever
Any fever above 103.5 degrees Fahrenheit is considered high, according to Dr. Sears. Parents can treat the fever with an appropriate over-the-counter medication. In addition to (but not in place of) the medication, Dr. Sears says parents can give their child a lukewarm bath, or use a cool washcloth on their head and neck to help bring a high fever down. Parents should also provide children with fluids to keep them hydrated.
Diagnosing a Fever
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises parents that the only way to determine accurately the degree of their child's fever is to take his temperature internally with a thermometer. For children younger than age 3, the AAP advocates using a rectal thermometer; it says that oral thermometers are acceptable for older children.
When to Treat
The AAP advises that low-grade fevers typically do not require any treatment unless the child is very uncomfortable or lethargic, or has a history of febrile convulsions. For common and high fevers, it recommends that parents give their child acetaminophen or ibuprofen, both of which are effective at lowering fevers.
When to Call the Doctor
The AAP advises parents to contact their pediatrician in the following cases: when an infant younger than 3 months old has a fever of at least 100.2; an infant between 3 and 6 months develops a common fever; or an older child develops a high fever. Additionally, parents should take their child to the pediatrician as soon as possible if she has had a febrile convulsion or seizure in order to rule out a more serious cause for the seizure, such as meningitis.
Finally, the AAP states that parents should observe their child's behavior when he has a fever. A high fever with no lethargy or considerable discomfort is much less troubling than a low-grade or common fever with accompanying symptoms. In those instances, parents should call their child's pediatrician, no matter how low the fever might be.
A Warning About Aspirin
Aspirin should never be given to children to treat fevers -- or any other illness -- because of its link to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially deadly illness.
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