Febrile Illness with Uncertain Cause (Child)

Home care

• Keep clothing to a minimum because excess body heat needs to be lost through the skin. The fever will increase if you dress your child in extra layers or wrap your child in blankets.

• Fever increases water loss from the body. For infants under 1 year old, continue regular feedings (formula or breastmilk). For children 1 year or older, give plenty of fluids, such as water, juice, soft drinks, such as ginger ale or lemonade, or ice pops. To prevent dehydration, you may be told to replace lost body fluids with oral rehydration solution. You can get this at pharmacies and most grocery stores without a prescription. Ask your child's doctor about what is safe to give to your child.

• If your child doesn’t want to eat solid foods, it’s okay for a few days, as long as they drink lots of fluids.

• Keep children with fever at home resting or playing quietly. Encourage frequent naps. Your child may return to daycare or school when the fever is gone for 24 hours, and they are eating well and feeling better. Follow any other directions from your child's doctor, daycare, or school on when it is okay to return to daycare or school.

• Keep track of how your child is acting and feeling. If they are active and alert, and are eating and drinking, there is no need to give fever medicine.

• If your child becomes less and less active and looks and acts sick, and their temperature is 100.4ºF (38ºC) or higher, you may give acetaminophen. In infants 6 months or older, you may use ibuprofen instead of acetaminophen. Follow directions from your child’s doctor on how to dose these medicines. Talk with the doctor before using these medicines if your child has chronic liver or kidney disease. Also talk with the doctor if your child has ever had a stomach ulcer or digestive bleeding. Don't give aspirin to children or teens unless your child’s doctor says it is safe. Aspirin can put your child at risk for Reye syndrome, a rare but serious condition. 

• Don't wake your child to give fever medicine. Your child needs sleep to get better.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your child's doctor as advised. If blood or urine tests were done, call as advised for the results.

When to get medical advice

Contact the doctor right away if your child: 

• Has a fever, as directed by your child's doctor.

• Is fussy or cries and can't be soothed.

• Has an earache, sinus pain, stiff or painful neck, or headache.

• Has belly pain or pain that is increasing or not getting better.

• Has repeated diarrhea or vomiting.

• Shows unusual fussiness, drowsiness or confusion, weakness, or dizziness.

• Has a rash or purple spots.

• Shows signs of dehydration, including:

  • Unable to take in fluids.

  • No tears when crying.

  • Sunken eyes or dry mouth.

  • No wet diapers for 4 to 6 hours in babies and young children.

  • Reduced urine output in older children.

• Feels a burning sensation when urinating.

• Is breathing faster than normal.

• Is still acting sick after the fever has gone down.

• Has any underlying medical problems that may cause them to have a weakened immune system.

• Has on-and-off fevers for more than 5 to 7 days even if there are no other symptoms.

• Has any other worrisome signs or symptoms.

Call 911

Call 911 if your child:

• Is having trouble breathing, has blue lips, tongue, or nails, or appears extremely pale.

• Has a seizure.

• Has loss of consciousness, or is difficult to wake up.