Fever in a child can be frightening for parents, but fortunately, it's not usually serious and is often the body's way of fighting infection. Minor infections can cause a slight or short-term rise in temperature, explains FamilyDoctor.org, a website published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Taking it easy and keeping physical activity to a minimum is generally advised for kids with a fever.
Causes and Symptoms
Weakness is a common symptom of fever, which can make the idea of physical exertion unappealing. Sweating, shivering, headache and loss of appetite may also accompany an above normal temperature. The way a child acts may also indicate that a fever is present. Crankiness is a universal sign of fever in kids. Most fevers go away in a few days, but they may last longer. A child with a fever may do best refraining from exercise as physical exertion can cause body temperature to rise. However it is a myth that children should be confined to best rest until their fever has gone, explains the Children's Physicians Network.
Considerations
Children with a fever don't necessarily feel sick or tired. If you tell your child to stay in bed, he may decide to use it as a makeshift trampoline the minute you leave the room notes B.D. Schmitt, MD, author of "Your Child's Health."
Recommendations
Children instinctively reduce their activity level when they don't feel well. If your child feels up to it, allow her to engage in low-key activities such as watching TV, drawing or reading, recommends Allina Hospitals and Clinics. Soaking in lukewarm water for a few minutes or a sponge bath offers cooling effects and may be a relaxing alternative to exercise. Parents are generally advised to keep a feverish child home from school or day care until the temperature has been normal for 24 hours, notes the website KidsHealth.org.
Precaution
Contact your doctor if your child has a high fever or if a low fever persists.
Temperatures of 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher may indicate a potentially dangerous infection. Even a slight fever can be a sign of a potentially serious infection in very young infants. Infants 3 months or younger with a rectal temperature of 100.4 Fahrenheit or higher require immediate medical attention, cautions the website Kidshealth.org. High fevers can make a child more prone to dehydration. Inform your health care provider if ear pain, diarrhea, vomiting, irregular breathing or confusion accompanies fever.
References
- KidsHealth.org; Fever and Taking Your Child's Temperature; August 2009
- FamilyDoctor.org: Fever
- MayoClinic.com; Fever; June, 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Fever; January, 2008
- Allina Hospitals and Clinics; Fever in Children; 2009
- Children's Physicians Network; Activity During Illness: Decreased; June 2010; B.D. Schmitt, MD
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