FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Every family has been through it-- the uncertainty when your child has a fever. Even though it's common there are many misconceptions about it.
Dr. Clint Pollack from Valley Children's Hospital has a few answers to common questions and clears up some common misconceptions.
Here is the full transcript of our conversation with Dr. Clint Pollack:
Tony Cabrera: Dr. Pollock there are a number of misconceptions about fever. We all deal with it. We all get scared. We all get nervous. But let's just start with the basics. What is a fever?
Dr. Pollock: Well I'm glad that you asked. I think fever is the most miss understood, most feared thing that parents deal with, with their children. Fever is the body's immune response to generally infection and it raises the body temperature by increasing your muscle activity and that's why kids shiver. A lot of times when their temperature is going up and increasing metabolic activity in the liver and other parts of the body.
Margot Kim: So when is a fever a fever? Because, you know, mom's like to test the forehead. But there are certain numbers that are guidelines we should know.
Dr. Pollock: So it depends on the age. In a young baby, a newborn, and up to 3-6 months we consider 100.4 or higher to be a fever. And in a young baby you really want to take the temperature rectally because that's the only way you are going to get a reliable reading. You know, older babies and children a fever is a 101 or higher. So anything less than that 99 or 100 is not a fever and you don't need to worry about it and you don't need to give medicine for that.
Tony Cabrera: And at what point do you take them to the E.R.?
Dr. Pollock: So generally if kids have a high fever every day for 5 days or more. Or if they have a high fever like 105 or 106 or their very ill appearing like lethargic where they won't wake up or irritable or crying for hours on hours on end or a young baby one or two months or younger with a fever 100.4 or higher. Those are kids that should be seen.
Margot Kim: Thank you Dr. Pollock
Dr. Pollock: Thank You.