Winter Cold and Flu Virus Update- A word on Fever and Cough
- Fever, although very unpleasant, is completely harmless in the setting of these viral fevers and coughs. Fever is unfortunately an experience that every single person will have, many times in their life. The normal range of fever is 100.8-105.8. Temperatures in this range are common and safe.
- The temperature over which fever becomes abnormal or of any concern is 106.0. It is important to note that going to 106.0 and beyond is an extremely rare event. As universal as fevers in the range of 100.8-105.8 are, fevers beyond that range are never seen in most people. Fever often seems to be something out of control, but in fact, the body is very careful in setting the higher temperature. The fact it stays at 105.8 and lower shows that fever is actually a very controlled and safe event.
- The main problem with fever is the discomfort it causes, and it is clear that the higher the fever, the more discomfort. So it’s a good idea to use ibuprofen to reduce fever to make your child more comfortable.
- The main question fever raises, from our point of view, is what is causing it, not how high it is. Fevers always indicate that some inflammation is present. In the vast majority of situations, the inflammation is due to a viral infection that will come and go without causing any harm, despite all the discomforts.
- How do you know if your child’s fever is from a simple viral infection that will be harmless,or a more serious cause? Three key items that tell us something more serious than a simple viral infection is happening are important to look for. If you don’t have any of these three problems, you are likely dealing with a simple viral infection that should be harmless:
- A stiff neck in older children
- Severe pain
- Trouble breathing
- Ibuprofen and acetaminophen. These are the key medications available to reduce fever. They don’t always work. It is very important not to give too much of these medications when they don’t fully eliminate the fever. As noted, fever is harmless, but overdose with either of these medications can be harmful. Here are some key points on use of fever medications:
- We recommend using ibuprofen as some studies raise concern that acetaminophen use is associated with greater risk of developing asthma.
- Ibuprofen is a helpful drug and should be used properly. The safe interval for children is using it every 6-8 hours. Occassionally, during the peak of a round of fever, it is safe to give ibuprofen every 4 hours, but there should never be more than 5 doses in a 24 hour period.
- If you give your child ibuprofen every 6-8 hours, there is no further reduction in fever, and therefore no benefit, to adding acetaminophen between doses
But the main difference is that if your airway inflammation is from asthma, medications like inhaled albuterol or inhaled steroids can get rid of the inflammation and the cough.
- Stiff neck
- Severe pain
- Trouble breathing when not coughing
*Disclaimer* The comments contained in this electronic source of information do not constitute and are not designed to imply that they constitute any form of individual medical advice. The information provided is purely for informational purposes only and not relevant to any person’s particular medical condition or situation. If you have any medical concerns about yourself or your family please contact your physician immediately. In order to provide our patients the best uninfluenced information that science has to offer,we do not accept samples of drugs, advertising tchotchkes, money, food, or any item from outside vendors.
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