Fever in children: what parents need to know

We are paging Dr. Paul to get a better understanding of the causes and the treatments options available.

It can be frightening when a child is dealing with a fever. Thankfully, the Medical Officer of Health and CEO of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit has some guidance for parents.

Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, A.K.A. Dr. Paul, joined CTV’s Your Morning Ottawa on Wednesday to share some information related to fever in children.

What is considered a fever?

According to Dr. Paul, anything over 38 C should be considered a fever. However, that number comes with a caveat.

“The number is important, but it’s not the only thing we have to be looking at,” Dr. Paul said.

He says parents should also monitor the overall wellbeing of their child, and whether they’re behaving normally.

For those wondering how best to take a child’s temperature, Dr. Paul’s guidance is simple:

“Younger children rectally. Any child over five years of age, by mouth,” he said.

Dr. Paul also says taking temperature under the armpit does not provide an accurate reading.

How to treat a fever

When it comes to treating a child’s fever, Dr. Paul says parents have a few medication options.

“We have Tylenol, which is acetaminophen, or ibuprofen, which is Motrin,” he said. “Those are the two things that should be given every four to six hours, based on recommendations on the package.”

Dr. Paul says aspirin should not be given to children.

If a child has been proscribed antibiotics, Dr. Paul says they can still take fever medications for the “first day or so,” until the antibiotics have kicked in.

For children who are older than six months of age and are eating, drinking and behaving normally, Dr. Paul says parents can try non-medical treatment.

“Basically, lukewarm sponge baths, keep the baby comfortable,” he said, adding that parents should be careful not to overdress their children if they’re dealing with a fever.

When to call the doctor

Fevers are most concerning in young children and babies, Dr. Paul said.

“For younger children less than six months of age, you should be calling your doctor for any sign of a fever,” he said. “Less than three months of age, I’m really worried about fever.”

For older children, Dr. Paul recommends seeking medical attention if the fever has lasted for more than three days or if their temperature is over 39.5 C.

Most importantly, Dr. Paul says, parents should consider the general behaviour of their child. If they have a low fever, but aren’t behaving normally, not eating well or are having difficulty breathing, he says its best to seek medical attention.

As Dr. Paul explains, it’s not necessarily the fever on its own that is most concerning, it’s the cause of the fever and the additional symptoms that need to be considered.

“So, when we’re worried about fever, we’re not really worried about the fever itself, we’re worried about ‘oh, what’s causing the fever’ right?” he said. “That’s the most important thing: What virus is it? Is it a bacteria? Do we need to give antibiotics?”

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