Febrile Illness with Uncertain Cause (Child)

Your child has a fever, but the cause is not certain. A fever is a natural reaction of the body to an illness, such as infections due to a virus or bacteria. In most cases, the temperature itself is not harmful. It actually helps the body fight infections. A fever does not need to be treated unless your child is uncomfortable and looks and acts sick.

Home care

• Keep clothing to a minimum because excess body heat needs to be lost through the skin. The fever will increase if you dress your child in extra layers or wrap your child in blankets.
• Fever increases water loss from the body. For infants under 1 year old, continue regular feedings (formula or breastmilk).  For children 1 year or older, give plenty of fluids, such as water, juice, soft drinks such as ginger ale or lemonade, or ice pops. 
• If your child doesn’t want to eat solid foods, it’s OK for a few days, as long as he or she drinks lots of fluids.
• Keep children with fever at home resting or playing quietly. Encourage frequent naps. Your child may return to daycare or school when the fever is gone and he or she is eating well and feeling better.
• Periods of sleeplessness and irritability are common. If your child is congested, try having him or her sleep with the head and upper body raised up. You can also raise the head of the bed frame by 6 inches on blocks. 
• If your child becomes less and less active and looks and acts sick, and his or her temperature is 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher, you may give acetaminophen. In infants 6 months or older, you may use ibuprofen instead of acetaminophen. Note: If your child has chronic liver or kidney disease or has ever had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding, talk with your child’s healthcare provider before using these medicines. Aspirin should never be given to anyone under 18 years of age who is ill with a fever. It may cause severe liver damage. 
• Do not wake your child to give fever medicine. Your child needs sleep to get better.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your child's healthcare provider, or as advised, if your child isn't better after 2 days. If blood or urine tests were done, call as advised for the results.

When to seek medical advice

Unless your child's healthcare provider advises otherwise, call the provider right away if any of these occur: 

• Fever (see Fever and children, below)
• Your baby is fussy or cries and cannot be soothed.
• Your child is breathing fast, as follows:
• • Birth to 6 weeks: more than 60 breaths per minute (breaths/minute)
  • 6 weeks to 2 years: over 45 breaths/minute
  • 3 to 6 years: over 35 breaths/minute
  • 7 to 10 years: over 30 breaths/minute
  • Older than 10 years: over 25 breaths/minute
• Your child is wheezing or has difficulty breathing.
• Your child has an earache, sinus pain, stiff or painful neck, or headache.
• Your child has abdominal pain or pain that is not getting better after 8 hours.
• Your child has repeated diarrhea or vomiting.
• Your child shows unusual fussiness, drowsiness or confusion, weakness, or dizziness
• Your child has a rash or purple spots
• Your child shows signs of dehydration, including:
• • No tears when crying
  • Sunken eyes or dry mouth
  • No wet diapers for 8 hours in infants
  • Reduced urine output in older children
• Your child feels a burning sensation when urinating
• Your child has a convulsion (seizure)