Call a doctor right away if:

• A baby less than 90 days old has a rectal temperature of 100.2°F (37.9°C) or higher.
• A baby 3 to 6 months old has a fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher.
• A baby 6 to 12 months old has a fever of 103°F (39.4°C) or higher.
• A child under age two years has a fever that lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours.
• A fever lasts longer than 48 to 72 hours in older children and adults.
• Anyone has a fever over 105°F (40.5°C), unless it comes down readily with treatment and the person is comfortable.
• There are other worrisome symptoms. For example, irritability, confusion, difficulty breathing, stiff neck, inability to move an arm or leg, or first-time seizure.
• There are other symptoms that suggest an illness may need to be treated, such as a sore throat, earache, or cough.
• You think you may have incorrectly dosed acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

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Your doctor will perform a physical examination, which may include a detailed examination of the skin, eyes, ears, nose, throat, neck, chest, and abdomen to look for the cause of the fever. Your doctor may ask questions such as.

• How long has the fever lasted?
• Is it increasing? Is it increasing rapidly?
• Has the fever gone away?
• How many days did it take for the fever to go away?
• Do you have alternating chills and fever?
• How frequently does it alternate (days, hours)?
• Did it occur within four to six hours after exposure to something that you might be allergic to?
• Does the fever follow an up and down pattern (is it high, then lower, then high)?
• Did it develop suddenly?
• Does the temperature go up and down suddenly (spike) or does it change slowly?
• Does it go away and then come back again daily?