The body's natural tempature is 98.6 degees. A fever is generally a temapture over 99.5 degrees orally. (Or a rectal temperature over 100.3 degrees.)
What is the purpose of fever?
The increase in the body's tempature helps the speed and efficency of virus fighting cells and antibodies. Most fevers are harmless, and some are even helpful. They indicate that your child’s immune system is working right.
However, too high a tempature can shut down organs, cause seizures, and be life threatening.
"So how do I know the difference?"
Seek medical attention if:
Under 3 months old - 100.4 °F or higher
3 to 6 months old - 101.0 °F or higher
6 months or older -103.0 °F or higher
104.0 °F or higher regardless of age
A fever may cause a Febrile seizure in children. These types of seizures occur in infants as young as 6 months and up to 5 years old. They most commonly occur between 1 and 1 and a half years of age.
Although these types of seizures are usually harmless with no lasting effect, I reccomend immedite medical attention when a child has a seizure. While waiting for help, place the child on their side, and make sure nothing is in the mouth.
Taking the temperature with a a digital thermometer is the most reliable way of knowing if your child has a fever. Feeling if the head is warm is not the best way to measure a temperature at home. There are times a child's head feels warm without having a fever.
(Thermometers availble here!)
Using a digital thermometer.
Under the tongue (Oral)
In the butt (Rectal)
In the ear (Tympanic)
On the forehead (Temporal)
"Why would I go in the butt or in the ear when I can just go under the tounge?"
Temperatures taken orally tend to run about a half or even a full degree lower than other methods.
These other ways are more accurate, and infants may not coperate with the tounge method.