The leaves are out, flowers are blooming, and your child is sick. Spring is a time for renewal, but that doesn’t mean childhood illnesses disappear again until fall and winter return. While “spring fever” is defined as a time when people are restless and want to get back outside after a long winter, a real spring fever is a sign of infection. Something is triggering your child’s immune system.
The glazed eyes, sleepy child, and flushed face are all easily spotted signs of a fever. When the thermometer confirms what you suspected, what do you do next? How do you help your child through a springtime fever and get back to playing outside with his or her friends? Premium Urgent Care has you covered with some fever reducing tips and tricks.
Understanding Why Fevers Happen
Fevers are the body’s defense mechanism to an infection. A fever is generally diagnosed as a temperature over 100.4°F (38°C) when taken rectally or 100°F (37.8°C) through other means, such as orally or with a forehead thermometer.
Your child may develop a fever with a viral infection like the flu or COVID, or a bacterial infection like strep throat or an ear infection like swimmer’s ear. When it’s viral, a fever is often treated at home, but bacterial infections usually need antibiotics.
Tips for Identifying the Cause
Before you can treat a fever, you need to consider what’s causing the fever. There are several potential illnesses.
- Ear Pain – Ear pain is a key indicator that an ear infection is present. Antibiotics aren’t often prescribed if there’s a chance the ear ache is linked to a virus. If it’s swimmer’s ear, however, medication is needed to clear up the bacterial infection.
- Gastrointestinal – Illnesses affecting the stomach and intestines, such as a stomach bug where diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting are key indicators.
- Headache – A headache and fever can be a sign of the flu, but it could also be more serious and related to meningitis.
- Rash – Any rash on the skin can be a sign of allergies or something more serious like chicken pox or measles.
- Respiratory – Allergies, cold, or flu are common illnesses. The fever often coincides with coughing, a runny nose, or a sore throat.
Home Care for Fevers
Many childhood fevers are best treated at home using a fever reducer that’s recommended by your child’s pediatrician. Among the more popular options are acetaminophen (Children’s Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Children’s Advil). These over-the-counter medications also help ease any pain. Do not use baby aspirin as it can cause Reye’s syndrome, which causes swelling in the brain and liver.
Help keep your child comfortable. While some generations of parents may remember sitting in ice baths, those are not helpful. A cool washcloth against the forehead or back of the neck is ideal.
Keeping your child hydrated is also important. You want to keep flushing the system with water, broth, and natural fruit juice (no added sugar). If your child struggles to keep fluids down, ice cubes or small frozen juice pops help with hydration.
Finally, make sure your child gets plenty of rest. Sit on the sofa with your child and put on a movie. If your child falls asleep, that’s even better. Keep activity to a minimum until the fever goes away.
When to Go to Urgent Care
Many childhood fevers go away quickly in the spring without needing medical attention. There are a few exceptions to this.
- Children with a fever exceeding 104°F.
- Dehydration is suspected – Dry mouth, lack of energy, low urine output
- Infants who are less than three months old and have a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher need to see a doctor.
- The fever coincides with a stiff neck, headache, rash, difficulty breathing, or non-stop vomiting.
- The fever has been present for more than three days.
- Your child is acting abnormally, such as extreme irritability or difficulty waking up.
Help Your Children Develop Healthy Habits
It’s impossible to keep kids healthy all year. They’ll be in school or with friends, and that close contact makes it easy to spread germs. You can help them lower their risk of becoming sick using these strategies.
- Eat a healthy diet.
A healthy diet goes a long way in helping the immune system. Limit the amount of sugary and processed foods your children eat, and offer nutritious, balanced meals. If your child insists on chicken nuggets, make them in an air fryer using oat flour. Toss thinly sliced potato strips in egg whites and bake those until golden.
Homemade fruit sorbet blending frozen fruit and unsweetened applesauce is a good dessert option if your child won’t stop begging for ice cream. Or, offer slices of fruit drizzled with a small amount of melted dark chocolate or natural peanut butter. Small changes like this aid in a healthier diet without leading to arguments and frustration.
- Stay hydrated.
Everyone in your family needs to drink a lot of water. Sugary sodas and fruit drinks are not good enough. If your child dislikes plain water, add a slice of lime, lemon, or orange. Seltzer is a good option if your child wants a fizzy drink and doesn’t mind seltzer’s aftertaste.
Milk is another good option for hydration. It’s also important for growing bones.
- Wash hands often.
When your child touches a doorknob or other object that people touch, coughs or sneezes, goes to the bathroom, or holds hands with another kid, it’s important to wash hands for 20 seconds using soap and water. Get your child in the habit of constantly washing his or her hands to help keep germs from spreading.
- Get yearly flu shots and other important immunizations.
Annual flu and COVID shots are important at helping your child stay healthy. No one loves getting a shot, but if your child does contract one of those viruses, it helps prevent severe symptoms. Make sure other childhood vaccines like MMR, TDAP, and chickenpox are completed. Measles is especially important in 2025 as more than 700 cases of this once an eliminated disease have been reported in the U.S.
- Avoid visibly sick people.
Finally, keeping your distance from others who are clearly sick is a good idea. If your child’s friend is flushed and coughing continuously, your child should find someone else to play with for the day. Ideally, parents won’t send a sick child to school, but not everyone follows that common courtesy. If your child really wants to play with his or her sick friend, wearing a mask and washing hands is a good way to avoid the spread.
Even with the utmost care, your child will become ill from time to time. Watch how a spring fever progresses and seek medical attention at the first serious symptom. Premium Urgent Care is here to help your child feel better and get back outside playing in the sun.