Fever in children: when to wait, when to call a doctor

A fever is not an illness — it is the body's normal response to an infection, and most childhood fevers come from ordinary viral colds that settle on their own in 2–3 days. In children, a temperature above 100.4°F (38°C) counts as fever. The number on the thermometer matters far less than how your child looks and behaves.

Focus on how the child looks, not the number

A child running 102°F who is drinking, passing urine, playing between fever spikes and settles once paracetamol brings the temperature down is usually managing a simple viral fever. A child at 100.5°F who is limp, refusing all fluids and hard to wake is more worrying than the higher number. Watch alertness, breathing, skin colour and whether they are still taking fluids.

What you can safely do at home

• Offer small sips of fluids often — water, ORS, breastmilk, coconut water, thin dals or soups — to prevent dehydration.
• Dress the child lightly; do not bundle them up. Keep the room comfortable, not cold.
• Give paracetamol at the correct weight-based dose only if the child is uncomfortable — treat the child, not the thermometer. Do not give aspirin.
• Use lukewarm (not cold) water sponging if the child is very uncomfortable. Never use ice or cold baths.
• Let the child rest and sleep; fever peaks in the evening is normal.

Do not alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen without a doctor's advice, and never give a second dose before the gap on the label has passed.