Fevers in children.

Fever is one common reason that families seek medical or dental attention for a child. The fever reaction is a series of cellular events that begins peripherally and ends centrally with a resetting of the body's temperature set-point. The conditions that lead to the febrile reaction are many and include several oral etiologies. The health professional who initially evaluates the febrile child must use care in determining the cause, the severity, and the management of the patient's condition. In performing this task, one must consider the age of the child, the history of the illness, and the physical appearance of the patient.