Reasons for a Fever in a Child with No Symptoms

Most moms who are on the ball start to worry if their kid's temperature goes above 99 degrees Fahrenheit. And if the thermometer climbs past 100.4 degrees without any signs of sickness, mom might hit the panic button, fretting over her precious child's health.

A one-off spike in temperature can be totally normal, especially if it's from hanging out in the sun too long or going hard in the wrong clothes.

But sometimes, a fever isn't as harmless as in the example above, so parents need to know what might be causing a fever without symptoms. It's crucial for making the right call on how to tackle the problem.

Main Reasons

Overheating

For the first five years, kids' thermoregulation isn't fully developed, so if the thermometer's reading is a bit "off the charts," it could be due to reasons like:

• The blazing summer sun;
• Spending a long time in a stuffy, hot room;
• The kiddo was playing active games for a while: running, jumping;
• Mom dressed the child in hot, uncomfortable, and tight clothing not suitable for the weather;
• Many anxious moms tend to bundle up newborns too warmly, so overheating can happen. Some moms put the stroller in direct sunlight so the baby won't get cold, but that's not advisable.

The reasons mentioned above can lead to the child's temperature spiking. On the thermometer, a mom might notice a temperature ranging from 37 to 38.5 degrees Celsius – that's how the body can react to overheating! If you think your little one is hot and has a fever without any visible cold symptoms, try to calm them down after active play, sit them in the shade, give them something to drink, and remove any excess clothing. The room should be well-ventilated if it's stuffy and hot. You can wipe the child down with cool water, and if the temperature rise is due to overheating, the thermometer reading should return to normal within an hour.

Reaction to Vaccination

At least once in their life, after getting vaccinated, a mom has seen her kid's temperature spike and them come down with a fever. The kid feels pretty much okay, nothing's bothering them except for the fact that their body temperature has shot up to about 100.4-101.3°F. And this can last for a few days.

Teething

Quite often, little ones send their parents into a full-blown panic over teething, when this unpleasant process is accompanied by an abnormal rise in temperature. Doctors are still at odds over this issue. Nonetheless, if parents notice that their child has become fussy, restless, their gums are swollen and red, and they've lost their appetite, then the reason might well be that they're teething. The thermometer might read 100.4°F, but many parents have dealt with even higher temperatures that lasted in their child for two to three days.

To help the little one, you should pick up some fever-reducing and pain-relieving meds from the pharmacy, work on bringing down the fever, give them plenty of warm fluids to drink, and try not to let them get too active. Moms should really pour on the TLC during this time, offering extra attention, affection, and warmth.

Fever in Children with Viral Infections

The first day of coming down with a viral infection might just hit you with a high fever, so naturally, a mom starts worrying and trying to figure out what's up. After a couple of days, the kid starts showing symptoms like a runny nose, cough, trouble breathing, a sore red throat, and chest pain – all signs that scream viral infection. If the fever's hovering around 100.4°F, you shouldn't be loading the kid up with fever reducers; instead, let the body duke it out with the viruses. What parents need to do is support their kid in this fight: don't bundle them up to avoid overheating, keep them hydrated with plenty of warm drinks, air out the room regularly, and keep it clean with some damp dusting, ensuring they're resting in a comfy and peaceful environment. The room should be kept at a cozy 68-71.6°F. If you notice your little one's clothes are soaked through with sweat, change them out pronto, after giving their skin a gentle wipe with warm water. Make sure your kid has everything they need to stick to bed rest: let them draw, watch cartoons, and play with building blocks. The main thing is to keep them from getting worn out or irritated, and that's where loving parents come in. Remember, you shouldn't be giving any meds to your child without a doctor making a house call.

There are some moms out there who, when their kid spikes a fever, go straight for the antibiotics!!! That's a huge mistake, because antibiotics don't do squat against viruses. They only start "kicking in" when you're dealing with complications after a viral infection, wiping out the bacteria that cause bronchitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia, and the like.

Bacterial Infection

This is something anyone can run into, not just after getting over a viral infection. A bacterial infection can pop up on its own, and it comes with a bunch of signs that only a doctor can spot early on. Diseases caused by bacteria include:

• Stomatitis. When a kid's starting to get stomatitis, they'll refuse to eat because of the painful sores and blisters popping up in their mouth. You'll see a lot of drooling and a fever;
• Tonsillitis – a condition that comes with a whitish coating of harmful bacteria and pus pockets on the tonsils and in the mouth. Tonsillitis brings on a high fever, sore throat when swallowing, chills, and feeling under the weather. It can hit kids over a year old, but it mostly takes down toddlers after they hit two;

• Upper respiratory tract infections (pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis)
• Lower respiratory tract infections (bronchitis and pneumonia)

• Hearing disorders - ear infections. When a kid has an ear infection, they lose their appetite, get fussy, and suffer from severe ear pain. The illness is accompanied by a high fever, and the child cries while grabbing their sore ear;
• Urinary tract infections are not uncommon in children under three years old. Besides a sudden spike in temperature, the child experiences pain during urination and frequent trips to the bathroom for a little one. To make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the right medication, it's crucial to call a doctor immediately, who will then order lab tests.

• Gastrointestinal infections (dysentery, salmonellosis, etc.) present with high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and pronounced symptoms of intoxication.
• Meningitis and meningoencephalitis show up as a rise in temperature combined with the child's lethargy up to a state of pre-coma and coma, severe headaches, photophobia, forced positions, and other neurological symptoms. The younger the child, the more challenging the diagnosis and, unfortunately, the faster the spread of the infectious process, leading to life-threatening complications.

Sudden Rash

There's an illness that targets toddlers aged between 9 months and 2 years, which is also classified as a viral infection. The culprit behind the disease is a virus. The little one gets feverish, with temperatures soaring to 100.4-104 degrees Fahrenheit, and that's without showing any other symptoms. But after a while, a spotty-papular rash appears on the body, indicating an infection. In some cases, a mom might notice swollen lymph nodes – either at the back of the head, neck, or under the jaw. After 5-6 days, all symptoms of the illness typically subside.

There are also other factors that could lead to a spike in body temperature when no other symptoms are present. For instance, allergic reactions, or inflamed wounds on the mucous membranes or skin.

Two particularly serious groups of diseases that can cause fever without any other symptoms are autoimmune and oncological diseases (including practically all types of leukemia). It's crucial not to overlook these, so as not to waste precious time that could be used for treatment.

What to Do

It's crucial to understand that a child's fever without symptoms indicates that their body is fighting off external threats and foreign infections. There's no reason to panic. It's also not wise to immediately start pumping your kid full of harmful medications to reduce the fever. First, trust the thermometer, not your touch, and clearly determine how much the temperature has exceeded the norm.

If your little one is healthy, doesn't have any chronic illnesses or conditions in their medical history, here's what a mom should do:

1. If the thermometer reads between 98.6°F to 99.5°F (37-37.5°C), there's no need to use fever-reducing drugs because the body needs to fight off the situation on its own and build immunity;
2. If the body temperature is between 99.5°F to 101.3°F (37.5-38.5°C), moms shouldn't rush to the medicine cabinet for drugs. Instead, sponge the child down with water, give them plenty of warm fluids, and make sure to air out the room frequently and thoroughly.
3. In cases where the temperature rises above 101.3°F (38.5°C), it's necessary to administer medications that reduce fever. A doctor might prescribe ibuprofen, Panadol, acetaminophen, among other drugs. Moms should always have a stock of fever-reducing medications in their medicine cabinet, but they should only be given after a healthcare provider has recommended a specific drug.

When to Seek a Doctor's Advice

Heads up! If your kid's running a fever without any obvious symptoms and it's not due to being overheated, calling a doctor is a must. This could be a sign of a bacterial infection or a localized bacterial inflammation. Moms need to get urine and blood tests done so the doc can get a clear picture and prescribe the right meds.

There are times when moms gotta drop everything and call 911 stat. If your child has:

1. Seizures.
2. Severe abdominal pain.
3. Been given fever reducers but the fever won’t break.
4. Sudden paleness and lethargy.

In such conditions, you can't leave your child unattended. A mom's gotta step in to help her kid cope with this unusual state and figure out what's causing it.

What Does a Low-Grade Fever Mean?

There are times when a kid doesn't seem upset or complain about feeling off, but mom notices they're running hot and happens to take their temperature, finding it's between 99 and 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. And what really baffles parents is that it can stick around for a month. In this case, the doctor might say the kid has a low-grade fever. Even if they seem fine on the outside, this condition, especially if it lasts a while, is a sign that something's up with the child's health that's not yet visible to doctors or parents. The list of illnesses that can come with a low-grade fever is pretty significant. It could be tuberculosis or primary tuberculosis intoxication, anemia, allergies, a parasitic infection, diabetes, brain diseases, or various hidden infections. To get the real scoop, you'll need to get the necessary tests done and go through diagnostics and examination.

A little one's delicate and still-developing body, when hit with a high fever, is under constant stress, so don't hesitate to call a doctor to your home. Moreover, there's a good chance the doctor will recommend consulting with other specialists: an immunologist, endocrinologist, ENT (ear, nose, and throat doctor), neurologist, and others. A proper diagnosis can only be made after a thorough examination, and then you can start the treatment plan prescribed by the doctor.

If diagnostic procedures reveal hidden infections in the body, moms will need to pull out all the stops to strengthen their kid's body and boost their immune system. Key actions include ensuring they get plenty of healthy sleep, acclimatization, eating well and diversely, and taking long walks in the fresh air. These steps will help normalize the temperature and boost the child's immunity.

If Your Newborn Has a Fever Without Symptoms

Babies don't yet have a well-tuned thermoregulation system, so if mom notices that the temperature is between 98.6-99.5°F, there's no need to freak out prematurely. There's also no need to worry if the little one is acting as usual, nothing seems to bother them, they're not fussing for no reason, they're eating well, and their sleep isn't disturbed. If the temperature rises without any apparent reason, hold off on giving any medication until a doctor has checked out the baby. To avoid overheating, don't overdress your little one, opt for breathable cotton clothing that won't be too tight. Make sure to keep the room well-ventilated and maintain a temperature of around 68-71.6°F. When taking the baby out for a walk, dress them according to the weather, and don't bundle them up too much.