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Fever and Taking Your Child's Temperature

Every parent has probably experienced this scenario: You wake up in the middle of the night to find your child standing by your bed, flushed, hot, and sweaty. Your little one's forehead feels warm. You immediately suspect that your child has a fever, but you're unsure of what to do next. Should you get out the thermometer? Should you call the doctor?

Even if your child does have a fever, it's likely that it's not serious. Although it can be frightening when your child's temperature rises, fever itself causes no harm and can actually be a good thing - it's often the body's way of fighting off infections. And not all fevers need to be treated. High fever, however, can make your child uncomfortable and can aggravate problems such as dehydration.

But there are steps you can take to correctly take your child's temperature and make your child comfortable when it's a little higher than usual. In this article, we'll talk about fevers, how to measure and treat them, and when to call your child's doctor.
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