Recurrent or frequent fevers in a child

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Recurrent or frequent fevers in a child

Fever is only a symptom, not a disease. If other symptoms are present, evaluate those. Fevers in a healthy child of to that occur without other symptoms and that last 2 to 3 days are usually not a cause for concern.

Recurrent fevers are those that occur 3 or more times within 6 months and are at least 7 days apart. It is not unusual for a young child to have 7 to 10 viral infections in a year. Each new viral infection may cause a fever. Recurrent fevers do not usually have any long-term side effects.

If your child has frequent fevers but does not have other symptoms, a visit to a health professional is needed to determine what is causing the fevers. It may seem that a fever is ongoing, but if 48 hours pass between fevers, then the new fever is most likely from a new illness.

If you are unable to measure your child's temperature, look for other symptoms of illness every hour while your child has a fever.

Credits

Last updated:	April 24, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics, Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
Editors:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC, Tracy Landauer