When your child (> 6 months) is burning up…

“Fever is not a disease. It is merely the child’s immune system APPROPRIATELY responding to an infectious process which is viral the majority of the time.”
“We treat fever with anti-pyretics because it makes the child feel bad, not because fever in and of itself is bad.”
“The “number” on the thermometer is not nearly as important as how the child looks (interactivity, energy, hydration).”
“Length of the fever is actually more concerning than height in most cases. If the fever lasts for more than 5 days, the child should at least have a repeat physical exam by a clinician.”
“Come back if you are worried about the child.”

Emergency Medicine Kenya Foundation (EMKF) is a not-for-profit (NGO) public benefit organisation registered in Kenya