Articles
Fever: First aid
Content
Overview
When to seek emergency care
Treatment
Infant and child
Adult
What to avoid
When to call your doctor
How to take a temperature
Rectal temperature (for infants)
Oral temperature
Temporal artery temperature
Armpit temperature
Ear temperature
Overview
When to seek emergency care
Treatment
Infant and child
Adult
What to avoid
When to call your doctor
How to take a temperature
Rectal temperature (for infants)
Oral temperature
Temporal artery temperature
Armpit temperature
Ear temperature
Infant and child
Children with fevers may not look or act sick. Treating a fever depends on how uncomfortable they are. If your child is uncomfortable or restless, these home care strategies may help:
- Have your child drink fluids.
- Dress your child in light clothing.
- Use a light blanket if your child feels chilled, until the chills end.
- If your child is 6 months old or older, give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others). Read the label carefully for proper dosing. If your child has other health problems or takes medicine for them, check with your healthcare professional before using fever medicines.
