Medicine made for kids, helps getting better easier! How Dangerous Are Fevers in Toddlers & Infants? After treatment, the fever should go away completely. For many parents, fever is one of the most concerning and alarming symptoms a child can have. To ease the symptoms of a fever, parents may try giving children a lukewarm bath, applying a damp washcloth to the forehead, and keeping the child well-hydrated. There is no harm in not treating a fever. With treatment, fevers usually come down 2°F or 3°F (1.1°C or 1.7°C) but may not go away completely. By far the majority of fevers do not harm the brain or body, although they do increase the need for fluids, Dr Young says. If the fever is high, the cause is serious. Myth #2: Fevers are bad, can cause brain damage or seizures and are dangerous to my child. Myth #2: Fevers are bad, can cause brain damage or seizures and are dangerous to my child. And remember the degree of the fever and its rapidity of onset are "not good predictors of serious illness", the hospital's clinical practice guidelines for fever in a child say. Being the parent of a sick child with a fever can be frightening.   While there is such a risk if one's body temperature exceeds 107.6 degrees F, a fever that high … "When you sweat you lose water, but a good judge of how much fluid you need is whether you feel thirsty. All Rights Reserved. But the most common reason for fevers in children is infections. 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Many also fear that untreated fevers will keep going higher and higher, up to … Fevers that are considered to be normal in children range from 100 degrees to 104 degrees. But if it's in response to an infection, that would be towards the limit of what you would expect. Neurologic complications of fever, such as febrile seizures and brain damage, are also considered. The only body temperature that can actually cause brain damage, despite what many parents believe, is 108° F (42° C), and this body … About 4 percent of children can have a seizure with a fever – this is called a febrile seizure. However, it is important to note that brain damage can result from very high and very rare temperatures in some children. These fevers can be terrifying to watch but "are not harmful and do not cause brain damage" or epilepsy, the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne says. Fevers so high they are life-threatening are usually a result of heat stroke or adverse reactions to either illicit drugs or certain medication reactions, he says. However, it is important to note that brain damage can result from very high and very rare temperatures in some children. One exception is in babies who are less than 3 months of age. An actual fever is any temperature of 100.4°F or higher. Management of a patient with fever requires both the investigation of the cause as well as lowering of the temperature; various measures are described. This includes conditions like heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps. Count on the brand that was founded to develop safe, effective medicines for kids. Fact: How your child looks is what's important, not the exact temperature. They should always be seen by a health care provider right away if they have a fever because their immune systems are not fully developed. Parents' perceptions of the dangers of fever are important because fear can lead to overuse of fever-lowering medicines and this can damage the liver, especially in small children. These fevers can be terrifying to watch but "are not harmful and do not cause brain damage" or epilepsy, the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne says.