Fever in children usually harmless

Fever in children is usually harmless. It indicates a serious illness only one per cent of the time, according to Germany’s Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).

By (DPA)

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Published: Mon 17 Aug 2009, 11:49 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 8:36 AM

Parents often have difficulty determining whether the illness is serious or not, however. The IQWiG has published guidelines to help parents of a child with a fever. If a baby under three months of age has a body temperature above 38 degrees centigrade, parents should take it to a doctor, the IQWiG said. A baby between three and six months of age should not have a fever higher than 39 degrees.

If a child with a fever shows no reactions or is listless, unusually inactive, very difficult to awaken or extremely pale, it could be suffering from a serious illness, the IQWiG said. Children who are weakly or cry shrilly should also receive medical attention.


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