The signs and symptoms of a fever depend on what is causing it. At first, a fever can cause a chill. When the brain raises the body's "thermostat," the body responds by shivering to raise the temperature. Shivering produces heat in the body. Once the temperature goes up, the person often feels warm. When the fever goes away, the person may start to sweat.
Signs of infection that may accompany a fever in children include the following:
In judging how ill a child is, the height of the fever is not the most important factor. Parents also need to look at the other symptoms. They have to take into account their child's alertness and general appearance. These elements can all help a parent gauge how sick the child is. An exception is a fever in an infant under 2 months old. In such cases, parents should always call the healthcare provider.