Pediatric Fever Diagnosis
A fever is not a disease, but a symptom. Your child has a fever when the temperature is at or above one of these levels:
- 100.4°F°C) measured rectally
- 100°F (°C) measured orally
- 99°F (°C) measured under the arm
If your child is less than 6 months old, take his/her temperature rectally.
Pediatric fevers can be one of the most challenging symptoms that parents and doctors face. Most fevers are merely the result of minor illnesses, such as colds and viruses. In rare cases, they can be the warning sign of more serious bacterial or viral infections.