FEVER

Q:  I’m not sure what to consider a fever for my three-year-old.  I’ve heard several opinions.

A:  A fever is a high body temperature.  It’s a way your body fights being sick.  A fever shows that the body is responding to infection or other illness- minor or severe.  A fever is a symptom and not an illness by itself.  It can be caused by anything, from a cold, to hot weather, to being overdressed, or even an injury.  Some medicine may cause fever.  Some people have lower temperatures in the mornings.  So, there is a lot of variability.  Normal body temperature for most is 98.6, and a fever is considered 100.4 degree core temperature.  Temperature is an important test, but it has to be in context with other things that are going on.  I mostly don’t worry about fever until it is 101 degrees, and then usually treat with Motrin or Tylenol.  At 103 degrees, I become more concerned and probably need to evaluate why they have such a high fever.

Dr. Rick Casey

Questions can be submitted directly to the providers, called in to Mercy Clinic at 417/876-5851 or submitted through their new App mymercy.net.

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