When your child has a fever, the body temperature will be above the normal range (37°C or 98.6°F). Using a thermometer will give you an accurate reading. The child may have other symptoms based on the cause of the fever and age, for example sweating, shivering, headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, dry mouth, thirst, or weakness.
High fevers between 103-106°F (39.4 – 41°C) may also cause hallucinations, confusion, irritability or seizure in some children (occurs in 2-5% of children under the age of 5 especially children who have a family history of febrile seizure). After checking your child’s temperature, if it is over 38°C or 100°F, you should give your child the appropriate dose of fever-reducing medication.
When in doubt, it’s better to consult a doctor or seek medical attention. If the child’s temperature is 101.5°F (38.5°C), you may give him/her a sponge bath with warm water or room temperature water by using a sponge or washcloth to wet the skin of the body, nape of the neck, armpits and groin, so as to bring a high temperature down for at least 20 minutes until the temperature is lower than 100°F (38.5°C). Please check the temperature every 30 minutes and keep your child from becoming dehydrated by giving fruit juice or snowflake, so as to ensure that the child consumes enough fluids. If you follow these steps and the child’s temperature is still high or other problems exist, including seizure, inactivity, unusual crying, excessive irritability, loss of appetite, vomiting, severe headache, stomachache or other abnormalities, please consult a doctor or seek medical attention immediately. For an infant younger than 3 months, if the rectal temperature is 100.5°F (38°C) or higher, please consult a doctor immediately even if there are no abnormal symptoms.