When a child's fever needs a doctor — and when it doesn't

Fever is not a disease. It's the body's immune system raising the thermostat to fight off something — usually a virus that will resolve on its own. Treating the number rather than the child is the most common mistake worried parents make.

For children over three months, a temperature under 38.5°C generally doesn't need medication. Offer fluids, dress them lightly, and watch how they behave. A child who is drinking, responding, and resting between spikes is doing well, even at 39°C.

What matters more than the number is the picture. Persistent vomiting, refusing fluids for more than six hours, a rash that doesn't fade when pressed with a glass, breathing that looks effortful, a soft spot on a baby's head that is bulging, or a child who is unusually limp and unresponsive between fevers — those are the signs that need a clinic visit the same day.

For infants under three months, any fever above 38°C is a reason to come in. Their immune systems are still developing, and we don't take that lightly. Call us first if you're unsure — that's what the line is for.