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Call HPSM’s Nurse Advice Line

Call 1-833-846-8773 anytime, 24 hours a day–7 days a week.

A Licensed Registered Nurse (RN) will give you medical advice when you think you need urgent medical attention, but you are not sure. A nurse will ask about your symptoms and tell you:

  • If you need to go to Urgent Care
  • If you can wait to see your doctor (within 24 hours, 3 days, or longer)
  • How to take care of your symptoms at home

Learn more about the Nurse Advice Line.

Fever Tips

Most health care providers consider a fever to be a temperature of 100.4F or higher. The best way to determine if your child has a fever is to take their temperature with a thermometer. Types of appropriate thermometers include:

  • Digital: Reading can be taken orally (in the mouth), axillary (under the arm) or rectally (bottom). Oral use is not recommended until a child is four years or older. The same thermometer should not be used for mouth and rectal temperatures. 
  • Temporal artery: Reading taken across forehead. This thermometer can be used for all ages.
  • Tympanic: Reading taken in child’s ear. This thermometer can be used for children six months or older. 

Talk to your child’s primary care provider (PCP) if you have questions about what thermometer to use and how to use it. 

How to treat a fever

Fever is not an illness: it is a sign that your child’s body is fighting an illness or infection. This means your child’s fever may not need to be treated if they are over six months old, drinking enough fluids, sleeping well and able to play.

  • Birth to 3 months old

    Do not give medication until your child has been checked by your child’s PCP.

  • 3 months to 4 years old

    Tylenol (Acetaminophen): never give more than what the label says.

  • 4 years old and over

    Advil or Children’s Motrin (Ibuprofen): follow label instructions.

Other tips for managing your child’s fever at home 

  • Allow your child to rest and take it easy. Keep your child home from daycare or school until they have been fever-free for 24 hours without medication.
  • Dress your child lightly.
  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids. Offer water, soup, ice pops and flavored gelatin. 
  • If your child is vomiting or has diarrhea, ask your provider about electrolyte (rehydration) solutions for kids. Do not offer sports drinks or juice since the added sugars can make diarrhea worse.
  • Avoid drinks with caffeine since they increase the risk of dehydration. 
  • Give your child a lukewarm bath. Do not give your child a cold bath, or ice bath since this can raise body temperature. Do not use rubbing alcohol baths since it can cause poisoning when absorbed through the skin. 

Febrile Seizures 

Febrile seizures occur in some children with fevers. These seizures can happen in children between six months and five years old, but most commonly can happen in toddlers 12 to 18 months old. During a febrile seizure, your child may have convulsions (shaking, twitching, jerking), become unconscious (pass out) and roll the eyes (only whites of eyes are visible). 

What to do if your child is having a febrile seizure

  • Place your child on the floor or ground. Make sure your child is on their side to prevent choking. 
  • Remove any nearby objects.
  • Loosen clothing around the head and neck.
  • Observe for signs of breathing problems.
  • Keep track of how long the seizure lasts. If the seizure lasts longer than five minutes or your child turns blue, call 911 or take your child to the emergency room.
  • Call your child’s provider when the seizure is over.

When to get help

Call your child’s PCP if you are concerned about your child’s fever or your child:

  • Looks very sick, is unusually drowsy or is very fussy.
  • Has other symptoms such as a stiff neck, severe headache, severe sore throat, severe. ear pain, unexplained rash, or is vomiting or has diarrhea. 
  • Is under two years old and has had a fever for more than a day.
  • Is two years or older and has had a fever for more than three days.
  • Has a seizure lasting less than five minutes.
  • Has a chronic health issue such as cancer or sickle cell disease (a condition in which the red blood cells are not shaped as they should be).

Go to the emergency room right away if your child:

  • Is three months old or younger and has a temperature of 100.4F or higher. Fever in a young baby can be a sign of a dangerous infection.
  • Has trouble breathing or has irregular breathing.
  • Has a seizure lasting longer than five minutes.
  • Develops a purple spotted rash.
  • Has a stiff neck.
  • Is acting sluggish or is difficult to wake up.
  • Is acting confused.