for spiked temperatures below 100.4—which isn't recommended—according to the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health at University of Michigan Health.
"Some parents may immediately rush to give their kids medicine but it's often better to let the fever runs its course. Lowering a child's temperature doesn't typically help cure their illness any faster. In fact, a low-grade fever helps fight off the infection. There's also the risk of giving too much medication when it's not needed, which can have side effects."
Remote thermometers at the forehead or inside the ear canal can be accurate if used correctly. But forehead readings may be inaccurate, Woolford says, if the scanner is held too far away or if the child's forehead is sweaty. With ear thermometers, which aren't recommended for newborns, earwax can also interfere with the reading., rectal temperatures are most accurate.
Three in four parents say they take their child's temperature as soon as they notice a possible problem, while a little less than a fourth wait to see if the problem continues or worsens before taking the temperature. However, if a newborn or infant less than three months old has a fever, they should immediately see a health professional, Woolford adds.A fever can be beneficial, and there are several reasons to let a low-grade fever run its course in—mainly because it's working as a weapon to kill the virus or bacteria causing sickness, Woolford says.
Parents of young children in particular should also avoid using combination cold medications along with fever-reducing medications due to the risk of over dosage.