Common Causes of Very High Fever in Kids

Fever, or body temperature greater than 37.2 degrees Celsius (oral) or greater than 37.5 degrees Celsius (rectal), is a telltale sign of an infection, but the height of the fever is a poor gauge of the seriousness of the illness. Simple infections may cause very high fever while potentially fatal infections may have low grade fever. The most common causes of very high fever in children are:

1. Tonsillitis
   
2. Ear infections
3. Typhoid fever
4. Urinary tract infection
5. Flu
6. Benign viral infections presenting with high fever and rashes, such as roseola and fifth disease

Call your doctor if:

• Your child is 5 weeks old or younger
• Oral temperature is 38.3 degrees Celsius or higher
• Your child is lethargic, irritable (crying for hours even with minimal stimulation, cannot be consoled), coughing, or has difficulty breathing, a stiff neck or a seizure.