MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Fever and children

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Fever and children

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names	Information

Illustrations

Temperature measurement

Alternative names Return to top

Children and fever

Information Return to top

Parents often want to know whether to call a doctor when a child has a fever. If a child experiences any of the symptoms or conditions below, get medical help:

Is weak, tired, or lethargic
Has trouble breathing
Is under 3 months of age
Has a stiff neck
Has purple spots on the skin
Has a seizure
If the fever exceeds 103 degrees Fahrenheit
If the fever persists longer than 24 hours even with treatment, or is accompanied by other symptoms (like vomiting)

See fever.

Update Date: 4/15/2003

Updated by: Elizabeth Hait, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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