When to seek medical advice
Your child has a fever if he or she:
- Has a rectal, ear or forehead (temporal artery) temperature of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher
- Has an oral temperature of 100 F (37.8 C) or higher
Call your doctor if:
- Your child is younger than 3 months and has a fever
Seek medical care if a child of any age shows any of the following:
- Fussiness, or acting abnormally, which doesn't improve even after taking medications to bring down the fever
- Signs of dehydration, such as no wet diapers over eight to 10 hours, crying without tears, a dry mouth or refusing to drink any fluids
- Stiff neck or a headache
- Abdominal pain
- Trouble breathing
- Rash
- Joint pain or swelling
Also get medical help if the fever lasts more than five days in a row.