Fever treatment: Quick guide to treating a fever

By Mayo Clinic Staff

A fever is a common sign of illness. But that doesn't always mean it's a bad thing. In fact, fevers may help fight infections. So should you treat a fever or let the fever run its course? Here's help knowing what to do.

These suggestions are for people who don't have serious health issues. That means they don't have a suppressed immune system, aren't taking chemotherapy medicines and haven't recently had surgery.

Listed in the table below are temperatures taken with rectal and oral thermometers. These thermometers give the best measure of core body temperature.

Other types of thermometers include ear thermometers, called tympanic membrane thermometers, and forehead thermometers, called temporal artery thermometers. They're easy to use, but they don't measure temperature as well.

Infants and toddlers
Age Temperature What to do
0-3 months 100.4 F (38 C) or higher taken rectally Call your child's healthcare professional, even if your child doesn't have other symptoms.
3-6 months Up to 102 F (38.9 C) taken rectally Have your child rest and drink fluids. Your child doesn't need medicine. Call your child's healthcare professional if your child seems more cranky than usual, has little energy or isn't comfortable.
3-6 months Above 102 F (38.9 C) taken rectally Call your child's healthcare professional, who may suggest that you bring your child in for an exam.
6-24 months Above 102 F (38.9 C) taken rectally Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol, others). If your child is age 6 months or older, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) is OK too. Read the label to be sure to give the right dose. Don't wake your child to give fever medicine. Don't give aspirin to an infant or toddler. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen don't have aspirin in them. Call your child's healthcare professional if the fever doesn't respond to the medicine or lasts longer than one day.
Children
Age Temperature What to do
2-17 years Up to 102 F (38.9 C) taken rectally for children ages 2-3, or taken orally for children older than 3 Have your child rest and drink fluids. Your child doesn't need medicine. Call your child's healthcare professional if your child seems very cranky, has little energy or complains of great discomfort.
2-17 years Above 102 F (38.9 C) taken rectally for children ages  For discomfort, give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Read the label to be sure to give the right dose. Be careful not to give your child more than one medicine that has acetaminophen, such as some cough and cold medicines. Don't give aspirin to children or teenagers. Don't wake your child to give medicine for fever. Call your child's healthcare professional if the fever doesn't respond to the medicine or lasts longer than three days.
Adults
Age Temperature What to do
18 years and up Up to 102 F (38.9 C) taken orally Rest and drink fluids. You don't need medicine. Call your healthcare professional if there's also a bad headache, stiff neck, shortness of breath or other symptoms.
18 years and up Above 102 F (38.9 C) taken orally For discomfort, take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or aspirin. Read the label to be sure to take the right dose. Be careful not to take more than one medicine with acetaminophen, such as some cough and cold medicines. Call your healthcare professional if the fever doesn't respond to the medicine, stays at 103 F (39.4 C) or higher or lasts longer than three days.

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Feb. 04, 2025 See more In-depth

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