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What Is a High Fever?

Reviewed By: Brunilda Nazario,

SOURCES: Steven Parker, MDDirector, Behavioral/Development Pediatrics, Boston Medical CenterWebMD Blog, Healthy ChildrenWebMD Message Board Expert

© 2006 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Narrator:

What is a high fever for a newborn?

Dr. Steven Parker:

Well, for a newborn, any fever is worrisome because newborns are more prone to serious infections. Their immune systems are immature. They don't fight off infections as well and so if they get a fever which we usually define as above 100.5 - 101 rectally, always a rectal temperature. Then that's a fever and in a very young baby that is worry some and you should always contact your pediatric provider if that occurs.

Narrator:

What about for an infant that's six months and older?

Dr. Steven Parker:

Don't get hung up on the number. First of all, fever does not hurt babies. So, don't be a fever phobe. The baby could have a temperature of 105, it's not going to do any damage at all.

Dr. Steven Parker (cont.):

The question is not the fever.The question is, why does your baby have a fever? Is it a sign of a serious infection? Does your baby look sick? I'm much more worried about a baby who has a temperature of 101 and is cranky and sleeping and not eating than I am about a baby that has a temperature of 105 and is playing and active and looks pretty good.

Dr. Steven Parker:

So, if a baby has a fever, they have an infection, and the question for you is not how high is the fever, but what might be causing the infection and how much do I need to worry about this. Many people do believe that and they are terrably afraid of a fever but its just not true. To fry your brain, quote unquote almost never happens with a fever you get from an infection. The only time is through heat stroke, like if a child is in a heated car or hot tub or something like that goes to 107, 108. And then we start to worry about that. But there are almost no reported cases if there are any is a fever from infection quote unquote frying a brain. Even if it is 105, 106. Its not going to happen.

Dr. Steven Parker:

The issue is why is the fever so high and could there be a serious infection. Yes that I am worried about. Frying your brain with a fever, no I'm not worried about that.

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