An important part of what we do as pediatricians includes diagnosis, treatment and SUPPORT OF YOUR CHILD AND FAMILY during times of illness. This section is only meant as an overview to help you with BASIC GUIDELINES for dealing with illness. If you have any illness concerns you should call our office for further guidelines and to discuss the need for an appointment to see the pediatrician.

FEVER:

A fever is defined as a temporary increase in the body’s temperature in RESPONSE TO ILLNESS. In many cases fevers are a natural response of the immune system to “FIGHT INFECTION.” Fevers may present with chills, body aches, irritability or fatigue. A true fever is defined as a body temperature of >100.4 FAHRENHEIT. Temperature can be measured in many ways. In infants < 2 months the most accurate way to assess temperature is with a digital rectal thermometer. All fevers in infants >100.4 F should be reported emergently to the pediatrician.  In older children you may also use axillary (under the arm) temperatures, oral temperatures and temporal artery temperatures to assess for fever. In order to make your child feel more comfortable during a fever episode, medications such as ACETAMINOPHEN (Tylenol) and IBUPROFEN (Motrin or Advil) appropriately (accurate dose for weight and age group) may be used (see table below for dosing). It is also important to support your child during times of fever with REST AND HYDRATION. If you have concerns regarding your child’s fever  you should contact your child’s pediatrician for further evaluation.

 TYLENOL & IBUPROFEN DOSES