Parents are often alarmed when they notice that one of their children has a fever, which happens when the body's temperature rises above its normal temperature of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. A fever is a symptom of some kind of underlying problem---such as an infection---that needs attention. Fortunately, while a parent works to figure out the root cause of a child's fever, the parent can treat the fever itself in simple ways.
Medications
Both acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, and ibuprofen, such as Motrin, can effectively lower a child's fever, reports the National Institutes of Health. Parents can use both types of medications together, giving acetaminophen every four to six hours and giving ibuprofen every six to eight hours, the National Institutes of Health states. Parents should carefully follow the dosage directions on the medication packages, which are based on children's weights and ages. The Cleveland Clinic cautions that parents should never give aspirin to a child under age 17, since that may cause a condition called Reye's syndrome, which can be fatal. The National Institutes of Health recommends that parents should call a doctor before giving any fever medications at all to babies younger than three months old.
Baths
Parents can give their children lukewarm baths, with the water temperature around 98 degrees Fahrenheit, to lower their body temperatures when they're suffering from a fever, the Cleveland Clinic suggests. However, the National Institutes of Health warns not to give cold baths, ice, or alcohol rubs, because those could make cause shivering, which would raise body temperature and worsen the situation. Lukewarm baths are most effective at reducing fevers if children take them right after taking medications.
Doctor Exams
Sometimes fevers can't be treated effectively at home. The Cleveland Clinic states that parents should contact their child's doctor for an exam if a fever lasts more than two days or remains above 103 degrees Fahrenheit after more than two hours of trying to treat it at home; the child with the fever is younger than six months of age; a child between six months and 1 year old has suffered a fever for more than 24 hours; or a fever is accompanied by confusion, irritability, or a stiff neck. The National Institutes of Health recommends that parents call their child's doctor if the child recently had an immunization before getting a fever, or if they notice any of these additional symptoms along with the fever including sore throat, earache, cough, a new rash, new bruises, or pain with urination.
