Fever is a warning sign that something is amiss in the body. It is the body’s natural response to over 100 conditions–some harmless, some life-threatening. The Nemours Foundation describes a temperature over 102 degrees F in a child as a high fever. This warrants a call to your child’s pediatrician. It is especially important to seek quick treatment for an infant. Be prepared to discuss your child’s other symptoms and when the fever began. Some fevers require fever-reducing medication, while others resolve on their own.
Infection
By far, the most common cause of high fever is infection. The offending culprit is usually a virus or bacteria that has invaded the respiratory tract, urinary tract or gastrointestinal tract. Occasionally, it may invade the blood, ears, eyes, skin or other organ or system. This fever may remain until the infection resolves or medications begin to fight it.
Immunization
While many immunizations cause a low grade fever for a week or less, some children will develop a high fever. This usually subsides within a few days.
Dehydration
Severe dehydration can lead to high fever. This involves an extreme situation, such as a child being lost in hot weather or being sick for days. Vomiting or diarrhea can cause this type of dehydration. The resultant fever will usually resolve only when the child’s fluid status is returned to normal, either through intravenous fluids or drinking an adequate amount to replenish the body.
Heatstroke
A heatstroke can cause a child to have a high fever. Mayo Clinic reports that heat exhaustion, a milder condition, can also cause fever. These usually happen when a child cannot go inside to escape sun and heat; occasionally a young child may not notice she is getting too hot. Infants can become too hot from being overdressed. An infant’s temperature regulation may not work as well as an adult’s, leaving her vulnerable to becoming overheated and developing a fever. Fever due to heatstroke, heat exhaustion or overheating resolves a while after the body is allowed to cool and any dehydration is corrected.
Poisoning or Drugs
Some children develop a high fever after ingesting a poisonous agent. Some medications also cause a fever in children occasionally. Theophylline, aspirin, atropine, diphenhydramine, thyroid medicine and dozens of other drugs can cause fever either at therapeutic or higher doses. Your child’s pediatrician must be made aware of any drugs your child has taken in order to make an accurate diagnosis. This type of fever may remain elevated until the poison or drug is out of the child’s system.
Other Causes
Other problems in the body can cause high fever. Only a physician can determine if a child’s fever is caused by a tumor, cancer, malignant hyperthermia, an autoimmune disorder, a nervous system disorder, Graves’ disease or another serious condition. These fevers resolve dependent on getting control of the underlying problem.
About this Author
Lucy Boyd is a registered nurse who graduated summa cum laude from the University of the State of New York – Regents College with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 2000. A professional writer since 2007, Boyd is the author of two medical books. Trade magazines such as “PI Magazine” call on her to create feature articles explaining psychiatric and medical issues.
