Introduction

• With children, even slight health issues can become very serious if not taken care of correctly. In no case is this truer than having a child with a high fever. Too high of a fever can have devastating effects on a developing child's body, especially his brain. This makes it important to take the right steps to bring your child's temperature back down to a healthy level.
  
  

The Facts

• A fever is actually a good thing. It is the body's way of fighting off an infection. A normal body temperature usually hovers around 98.6 degrees F. You only need to really worry when the temperature gets above 100.5 degrees F for infants under the age of 3 months, and 103 to 104 degrees and above for children age 3 months and above. At that point you should contact a doctor. Brain damage can occur once the temperature reaches 107 degrees F.
  
  

Medication

• As long as you follow the directions for ages on the bottle, using medicines that contain ingredients such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be helpful. These medicines help lower your child's internal body temperature. Common medications containing these ingredients are Children's Tylenol and Children's Motrin.
  
  

Clothing

• A great way to help lower your child's temperature is to remove her clothing. Strip her down to just her diaper or underwear to allow her skin to cool down. This will also allow the heat from her body to escape easier.
  
  

Sponging

• Sponging is a technique often used to help lower your child's fever. However, if your child has progressed to the point where you need to implement sponging, you should probably contact your pediatrician for an appointment. Sponging involves taking a lukewarm sponge and gently washing your child's skin. If he starts to shiver, you will need to use warmer water. You should never use ice or alcohol in a sponge bath with a child.