When Should You Treat a Fever?

Fever is a normal and healthy response of our bodies to an illness. The body's immune system releases chemicals that raise the body temperature. This is part of the normal infection-fighting process. Studies that look at the relationship of fever and outcome show an overall decreased time being sick and a better outcome for patients who have a fever when fighting off an illness.

WHAT TEMPERATURE CONSTITUTES A FEVER?
(based on oral temperature – to use chart to compare temperature from under the arm add 1 degree to actual temperature, to compare rectal subtract 1 degree from actual temperature)
Normal temperature – 97 to 99 degrees (36 to 37.2 Celcius).
Low-grade fever – 99 to 100.9 degrees (37.3 to 38.3 Celcius).
Common fever – 101 to 103.5 degrees (38.4 to 39.7 Celcius).
High fever – any fever over 103.6 degrees (39.8 Celcius).

Most fevers in healthy adults are short lived and harmless. Fevers are naturally lower in the morning and higher in the afternoon. It is important to try to determine the cause of the fever before you treat it. Is it a viral infection like the cold or flu which just needs to run its course? Or is it bacterial like strep throat, bladder infections, pneumonia, ear infections, etc. that may require an antibiotic?

It is generally a good idea to avoid the use of acetaminophen or ibuprofen to treat fever until it rises to 102 degrees Fahrenheit unless directed to do so by your doctor. If you are taking care of older children who have a fever this can also be true. Fever in infants, however, should be handled more cautiously. You should get a plan from your physician on when and how to treat fever in a child or infant.

If a fever is present with any of the following symptoms, a physician should be consulted right away: Irritability (more than just crabby), confusion, lethargy (doesn't easily wake up), difficulty breathing, rapid and weak pulse, refusal to eat or drink, ill-appearing even after the fever is brought down , severe headache or other specific complaint (burning with urination, limping, pain, etc). Physicians should also be consulted for all ages if temperature rises to 104 degrees, if fever above 102 lasts more than three days or if low grade fever lasts more than 3 weeks.

If you or your child are uncomfortable or can’t sleep you can still give acetaminophen or ibuprofen when you have a fever. It is just important to know that you don’t have to automatically give fever reducers for fevers under 102 if there are no other reasons to do so.

Our pharmacists at Kemper Drug are happy to answer your questions about medications to treat fever and how to dose them in children. We can also help you choose cold medications that treat only the symptoms you have and don't contain acetaminophen or ibuprofen if you don't need them.