Fever

» Fever is the body’s sign that it is fighting an infection.

» If the teen’s temperature is over 103° and you cannot get it down; the fever is accompanied by a stiff neck, headache and vomiting; he is having difficulty breathing; he is vomiting and/or has diarrhea; or the fever has lasted for more than three days, contact a doctor immediately.

 » Never give aspirin to a child or teenager.  Doctors recommend that anyone under the age of 21 should not use aspirin, especially if they have cold or flu-like symptoms.  Instead, use a non-aspirin medicine such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce his fever.

Medicine

» If your teen has trouble swallowing pills, consult with the doctor as to whether the medication can be crushed and mixed with food such as applesauce.

» Never give any medications without consulting a doctor.

Hunger

Taking your teen to the doctor for annual checkups will help the doctor be familiar with your teen’s physical and mental development.  This will help with the assessment of your teen’s symptoms when he is sick. 

If you are not sure whether or not your teen needs to be seen by a doctor, err on the side of caution.  Do not worry about looking silly or being over-reactive.  It is better to be for you to be wrong, than to overlook a potentially serious illness.

Symptoms

» Have your teen explain in detail what symptoms he is experiencing.

Temperature

» An average temperature ranges between 97.6 and 98.6 degrees.

» If you suspect that your teen has an elevated temperature, check it by using an oral glass-mercury thermometer or a digital type.

» When using an oral thermometer, have your teen hold the thermometer under his tongue for two to three minutes.  He should not talk or open his mouth while his temperature is being taken.

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