Treating Fevers in Kids [Video]

Dr. Alfredo Vargas often sees kids dealing with fevers. “It’s probably the most common complaint we see in a pediatric emergency department.” A fever is a symptom of some kind of foreign germ in your system. “When something is basically invading the body, the bodies defense is to increase the temperature. By increasing the temperature, you’re going to speed up your heart rate, speed up the metabolism, speed up their breathing, all in an effort to ward off the foreign invader whatever it might be.”

While anything above 100.4’, can be considered a fever, Dr. Vargas said the reading doesn’t tell the whole story. “The number is not something really to harp on. I know parents like to harp on the number, but when a child has a fever, the next question that should be asked is how is the child doing? The child who is alert and active and well appearing is much less worrisome than the child who is not.”

Over-the-counter medicine like Tylenol or Motrin can help with fever symptoms. “I will tell a parent give them their Motrin, give them an hour an hour and a half, let the fever come down and reassess how they’re doing,” said Dr. Vargas. “If the child is continuing to remain happy and playful, that’s a good reassuring thing, they should be evaluated by physician, but it’s not the kind of thing a parent needs to rush them to emergency department they can see their pediatrician the next day or us the next day.” Golisano’s Children’s Hospital has Lee County’s only pediatric emergency department. It’s open 24/7.

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