Fever: A fever is usually a sign that something out of the ordinary is going on in your body. For an adult a fever may be uncomfortable but is not dangerous unless it reaches 103 F (39.4 C) or higher. For very young children and infants, a slightly elevated temperature may indicate a serious infection. As a general rule, in children, a temperature of over 37.5°C (99.5°F) is a fever. A quick and easy way to find out whether your child has a fever is to take their temperature using a thermometer.
The degree of fever does not necessarily indicate the seriousness of the underlying condition. A minor illness may cause a high fever and a more serious illness may cause a low fever.
So it is better to see a doctor if the fever goes on for several days as a fever should go away within a few days. A number of over the counter medications lower a fever but sometimes it is better left untreated. Fever seems to play a key role in helping your body fight off a number of infections. Symptoms may include: sweating, shivering, headache and muscle aches.
If your child has a fever, it's important to keep them hydrated by giving them plenty of cool water to drink. Even if your child isn't thirsty, try to get them to drink little and often to keep their fluid levels up.
Contact your doctor urgently if your child:
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is under three months old and has a temperature of 38°C (101°F) or above
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is between three and six months old and has a temperature of 39°C (102°F) or above
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is over six months old and, as well as a fever, has other signs of being unwell, such as floppiness and drowsiness, breathlessness, vomiting, rash, fits or seizures
