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| |    What's Fever and What Isn't? by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed and revised by Lynn Cates, M.D., F.A.A.P. Most parents want to be given an exact temperature that defines a fever. In reality, such a number doesn't exist. A healthy child's body temperature doesn't stay fixed at 98.6 degrees F (37 degrees C). It goes up and down a little, depending on the time of day and what your child is doing. Your child's temperature (as well as your own) is usually lowest in the early morning and highest in the late afternoon. This daytime variation is small, whereas the change in temperature between rest and activity can be greater. The temperature of perfectly healthy small children may be 99.6 degrees F (37.5 degrees C) or even 100 degrees F (37.7 degrees C) right after they have been running around. A temperature of 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C) or higher probably is a true fever, and often means illness, regardless of whether your child has been exercising or not. It is important to note that a serious illness may never bring a temperature higher than 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C). You should always get in touch with your child's healthcare provider if your child looks concerningly sick, even if she does not have a detectable fever. Fever can serve a purpose during an illness Fever is one method the body uses to fight infection. Some germs are believed to be killed more easily at higher temperatures. A fever also can help you and your child's healthcare provider determine whether an illness is resolving or getting worse. I often recommend that parents call or have me re-evaluate their child if a fever persists for more than four or five days. If a child develops a fever during the middle or end of an illness, I often will consider the possibility of a new cold, or a secondary infection such as sinusitis, ear infection, or even pneumonia.
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