Fever in Kids: When to Call the Doctor

Why children get fevers, and when to call the doctor. In This Video: 0:26 What is a fever 0:43 Why do you get a fever 1:26 Why does a fever make you feel bad 2:14 Is a fever dangerous 2:36 What to do when a child has a fever 3:02 Is medicine necessary for a fever 3:33 When should I call the doctor about a fever A fever is a temperature greater than or equal to or 38ºC. Fever in children is very common. Fever is a normal body response that helps the body fight infections. The information in this video is for otherwise healthy children older than 3 months. If your child is younger than 3 months, or has a health problem that makes infection more likely, always call you doctor for advice when your child has a fever. Your child s temperature is not the most important thing to monitor when your child has a fever. Most of the time you won t even need to take your child s temperature. Instead, pay attention to the symptoms your child is experiencing along with the fev