1. Fever is Your Friend
Fever is the body's defense against an intruder, such as a virus or bacteria, and plays an important role in fighting off infection. Although you may think a normal temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, that number may vary a degree or two for some individuals. Therefore, you should consider it a fever when the number rises above the person's normal baseline temperature. Although body temperature usually varies during the day, with it being a little higher in the evening, you should consider a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit as a fever. It's important to find the source of a fever that lasts more than a few days, since a prolonged infection left untreated may damage the heart or other organs.
2. Identify the Source
A fever will usually last for three to five days, with accompanying symptoms that help to identify the source. Often when the cause of the fever is hard to pin down, the diagnosis is "fever of unknown origin," especially if the temperature is over 100.9 degrees Fahrenheit and has lasted beyond eight days. Ninety percent of the time, your doctor will be able to diagnose the condition after some detective work, including an extensive history, blood work or x-rays. Once the appropriate treatment is in place, the fever should begin to subside after a few days.
3. Determine Whether Treatment is Warranted
Since fever reducers can cause side effects, especially in young children, it might be better to leave a fever untreated if a diagnosis isn't apparent. However, you should treat if the fever causes extreme discomfort or other distressing symptoms. Avoid using aspirin for a child's fever because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a serious complication. Use Tylenol or ibuprofen when a fever reducer is necessary, and follow the instructions regarding the dosage and age of your child. Apply cool compresses to the groin and armpits or use a cooling blanket to safely reduce temperatures. Your doctor may suggest that you use over-the-counter medications around the clock to avoid extreme temperature ranges.
4. Avoid Dehydration
Maintain fluid and electrolyte balance during a prolonged fever. Hospitalization may be necessary to prevent dehydration when oral intake of fluids is insufficient. Children are especially vulnerable to dehydration when vomiting or diarrhea accompanies the fever. Consult a physician if your child has a fever that lasts longer than three days, or if he is listless, vomiting repeatedly, complains of a severe headache, or has any other symptoms causing significant distress. If your child is less than 2-years old, consult your physician about any fever that lasts for more than a day.
5. When it's More Than Just a Fever
Prolonged fever also may be associated with many noninfectious illnesses, such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, malignancies and other inflammatory diseases involving the bowels. Therefore, when an obvious illness isn't present, it's important to rule out underlying causes with CT scans, blood studies and extensive antibody testing for other less common infectious illnesses.
