“How do you manage a viral fever in children?”

Fever, defined as a core body temp above 100.4oF or 38oC, is the body's response to a stressor, of which infection is the most common. Fever is a generalized response, and does not identify the cause of the fever, including whether due to a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. The fever itself is not dangerous...in fact, it may be helpful in fighting the infection as part of the body's natural immune response. However, what is causing the fever may be very dangerous, even life-threatening in some circumstances, and should be diagnosed by a physician.
Using medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can reduce the fever by interfering with the body's natural fever mechanism, but it does nothing to treat the underlying cause of the fever. Your pediatrician will diagnose the cause of the fever and give you recommendations for keeping your child comfortable.

Fever is the body’s way of getting rid of the virus. You can give appropriate dose of Tylenol or Motrin every 6 hours to help the fever stay down until his body has fought the infection.

Viral illnesses are usually self limited - with time, rest, and adequate fluid intake - they go away on their own. For fever in patients that are school age, you can use age appropriately dosed acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If the fever persists for more than three or four days, it would be a good idea to have your local pediatrician or family doctor to examine your son to see if anything other than a virus is going on to explain the continued fever.

L. Curtis Cary, MD, FAAP, FACP, MRCP

Usually you can give tylenol and plenty of fluids. If any respiratory distress or dehydration seek help immediately.