When does one start to speak of fever in a toddler?
In small children, a body temperature of 38.5°C or higher is called fever. Subfebrile temperatures are defined as temperatures that are clearly elevated but still below 38.5°C. There are different indications when one speaks of subfebrile temperatures, since temperatures above 37.0°C can also be normal.
Definitely from 37.5°C on, one speaks of subfebrile temperatures. From a temperature of 39.0°C on, one speaks of high fever. From a temperature of 41.0°C onwards, one speaks of a life-threatening fever.
However, not every elevated body temperature is necessarily indicative of a disease. In the course of the day, the body temperature fluctuates by about 0.5°C. An increased body temperature can also occur with increased physical activity (for example, a lot of romping).
Infants can have serious infections even without a fever. In this case, a normal body temperature is not a reliable exclusion criterion for serious diseases. The most accurate and reliable fever measurement is obtained rectally (in the buttocks).
At what point does it become dangerous?
A high fever (39.0°C) is not necessarily dangerous yet. Only at a temperature of 41.0°C and higher is it considered a life-threatening fever. Above this temperature there is a risk that the body’s own proteins will be damaged, leading to organ dysfunction.
As the fever can rise rapidly under certain circumstances, it is important to take a temperature at regular intervals in order to be able to react quickly when it rises. Any fever that cannot be reduced by medication is also considered dangerous. A febrile convulsion is also considered potentially dangerous.
In addition, accompanying symptoms such as repeated vomiting should be avoided and attention should be paid to lethargy. In general, a fever should only be reduced with medication at a temperature of 39.0°C or higher. If a febrile spasm has already occurred once, the fever should already be reduced with medication at a temperature of 38.5°C.
