How to Write an Abstract

If you need to write an abstract for an academic or scientific paper, don't panic! Your abstract is simply a short, standalone summary of the work or paper that others can use as an overview.^[1] An abstract describes what you do in your essay, whether it’s a scientific experiment or a literary analysis paper. It will help your reader to understand the paper and it will help people searching for a particular work to find it and decide whether it suits their purposes. Seeing as an abstract is only a summary of the work you've already done, it's easy to accomplish!

EditSteps

EditGetting Your Abstract Started

1. Write your paper first. Even though an abstract goes at the beginning of the work, it acts as a summary of your entire paper. Rather than introducing your topic, it will be an overview of everything you write about in your paper. Save writing your abstract for last, after you have already finished your paper.
   
   • A thesis and an abstract are entirely different things. The thesis in a paper introduces the main idea or question, while an abstract works to review the entirety of the paper, including the methods and results.
   • Even if you think you know what your paper is going to be about, always save the abstract for last. You will be able to give a much more accurate summary if you do just that - summarize what you've already written.
2. Review and understand any requirements for writing your abstract. The paper you’re writing probably has specific guidelines and requirements, whether it’s for publication in a journal, submission in a class, or part of a work project. Before you start writing, refer to the rubric or guidelines you were presented with to identify important issues to keep in mind.
   
   • Is there a maximum or minimum length?
   • Are there style requirements?
   • Are you writing for an instructor or a publication?
3. Consider your audience. Abstracts are written to help readers find your work. For example, in scientific journals, abstracts allow readers to quickly decide whether the research discussed is relevant to their own interests. Abstracts also help your readers get at your main argument quickly. Keep the needs of your readers in mind as you write the abstract.^[2]
   • Will other academics in your field read this abstract?
   • Should it be accessible to a lay reader or somebody from another field?
4. Determine the type of abstract you must write. Although all abstracts accomplish essentially the same goal, there are two primary styles of abstract: descriptive and informative. You may have been assigned a specific style, but if you weren’t, you will have to determine which is right for you. Typically, informative abstracts are used for much longer and technical research while descriptive abstracts are best for shorter papers.^[3]
   
   • Descriptive abstracts explain the purpose, goal, and methods of your research but leave out the results section. These are typically only 100-200 words.
   • Informative abstracts are like a condensed version of your paper, giving an overview of everything in your research including the results. These are much longer than descriptive abstracts, and can be anywhere from a single paragraph to a whole page long.^[4]
   • The basic information included in both styles of abstract are the same, with the main difference being that the results are only included in an informative abstract, and an informative abstract is much longer than a descriptive one.
   • A critical abstract is not often used, but it may be required in some courses. A critical abstract accomplishes the same goals as the other types of abstract, but will also relate the study or work being discussed to the writer’s own research. It may critique the research design or methods.^[5]

EditWriting Your Abstract

1. Identify your purpose. You're writing about a correlation between lack of lunches in schools and poor grades. So what? Why does this matter? The reader wants to know why your research is important, and what the purpose of it is. Start off your descriptive abstract by considering the following questions:^[6]
   
   • Why did you decide to do this study or project?
   • How did you conduct your research?
   • What did you find?
   • Why is this research and your findings important?
   • Why should someone read your entire essay?
2. Explain the problem at hand. Abstracts state the “problem” behind your work. Think of this as the specific issue that your research or project addresses. You can sometimes combine the problem with your motivation, but it is best to be clear and separate the two.^[7]
   
   • What problem is your research trying to better understand or solve?
   • What is the scope of your study - a general problem, or something specific?
   • What is your main claim or argument?
3. Explain your methods. Motivation - check. Problem - check. Methods? Now is the part where you give an overview of how you accomplished your study. If you did your own work, include a description of it here. If you reviewed the work of others, it can be briefly explained.^[8]
   
   • Discuss your own research including the variables and your approach.
   • Describe the evidence you have to support your claim
   • Give an overview of your most important sources.
4. Describe your results (informative abstract only). This is where you begin to differentiate your abstract between a descriptive and an informative abstract. In an informative abstract, you will be asked to provide the results of your study. What is it that you found?^[9]
   
   • What answer did you reach from your research or study?
   • Was your hypothesis or argument supported?
   • What are the general findings?
5. Give your conclusion. This should finish up your summary and give closure to your abstract. In it, address the meaning of your findings as well as the importance of your overall paper. This format of having a conclusion can be used in both descriptive and informative abstracts, but you will only address the following questions in an informative abstract.^[10]
   
   • What are the implications of your work?
   • Are your results general or very specific?^[11]

EditFormatting Your Abstract

1. Keep it in order. There are specific questions your abstract must provide answers for, but the answers must be kept in order as well. Ideally it should mimic the overall format of your essay, with a general ‘introduction, ‘body,’ and ‘conclusion.’
   
   • Many journals have specific style guides for abstracts. If you’ve been given a set of rules or guidelines, follow them to the letter.^[12]
2. Provide helpful information. Unlike a topic paragraph, which may be intentionally vague, an abstract should provide a helpful explanation of your paper and your research. Word your abstract so that the reader knows exactly what you’re talking about, and isn’t left hanging with ambiguous references or phrases.
   
   • Avoid using direct acronyms or abbreviations in the abstract, as these will need to be explained in order to make sense to the reader. That uses up precious writing room, and should generally be avoided.
   • If your topic is about something well-known enough, you can reference the names of people or places that your paper focuses on.
   • Don’t include tables, figures, sources, or long quotations in your abstract. These take up too much room and usually aren’t what your readers want from an abstract anyway.^[13]
3. Write it from scratch. Your abstract is a summary, yes, but it should be written completely separate from your paper. Don't copy and paste direct quotes from yourself, and avoid simply paraphrasing your own sentences from elsewhere in your writing. Write your abstract using completely new vocabulary and phrases to keep it interesting and redundancy-free.
   
4. Use key phrases and words. If your abstract is to be published in a journal, you want people to be able to find it easily. In order to do so, readers will search for certain queries on online databases in hopes that papers, like yours, will show up. Try to use 5-10 important words or phrases key to your research in your abstract.^[14]
   
   • For example, if you’re writing a paper on the cultural differences in perceptions of schizophrenia, be sure to use words like “schizophrenia,” “cross-cultural,” “culture-bound,” “mental illness,” and “societal acceptance.” These might be search terms people use when looking for a paper on your subject.
5. Use real information. You want to draw people in with your abstract; it is the hook that will encourage them to continue reading your paper. However, do not reference ideas or studies that you don’t include in your paper in order to do this. Citing material that you don’t use in your work will mislead readers and ultimately lower your viewership.
   
6. Avoid being too specific. An abstract is a summary, and as such should not refer to specific points of your research other than possibly names or locations. You should not need to explain or define any terms in your abstract, a reference is all that is needed. Avoid being too explicit in your summary and stick to a very broad overview of your work.^[15]
   
   • Make sure to avoid jargon. This specialized vocabulary may not be understood by general readers in your area and can cause confusion.^[16]
7. Be sure to do basic revisions. The abstract is a piece of writing that, like any other, should be revised before being completed. Check it over for grammatical and spelling errors and make sure it is formatted properly.
   
8. Get feedback from someone. Having someone else read your abstract is a great way for you to know whether you’ve summarized your research well. Try to find someone who doesn’t know everything about your project. Ask him or her to read your abstract and then tell you what s/he understood from it. This will let you know whether you’ve adequately communicated your key points in a clear manner.^[17]
   • Consulting with your professor, a colleague in your field, or a tutor or writing center consultant can be very helpful. If you have these resources available to you, use them!
   • Asking for assistance can also let you know about any conventions in your field. For example, it is very common to use the passive voice (“experiments were performed”) in the sciences. However, in the humanities active voice is usually preferred.

EditSample Abstracts

Sample Article Abstract

Sample Executive Summary

EditTips

• Abstracts are typically a paragraph or two and should be no more than 10% of the length of the full essay. Look at other abstracts in similar publications for an idea of how yours should go.^[18]
• Consider carefully how technical the paper or the abstract should be. It is often reasonable to assume that your readers have some understanding of your field and the specific language it entails, but anything you can do to make the abstract more easily readable is a good thing.

EditRelated wikiHows

• Summarize a Journal Article
• Read a Scientific Paper
• Create a Family Cookbook
• Write an Appendix
• Write an Autobiography
• Begin an Autobiography

EditSources and Citations

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How to Open a Stuck Window

It can be quite frustrating when you want to open a window and find that the window won’t budge. Windows can get stuck for a number of reasons: wood frames may have warped in wet weather, the house may have settled or someone may have painted the frames shut. With patience and a few handy techniques, most stuck windows can be opened.

EditSteps

EditPrying a Window Open

1. Examine the window. Look at both sides of the window, interior and exterior.
   
   • Make sure it is a window that is meant to be opened. Some new office and home windows are not meant to be opened. If there are no hinges or the window is a single pane with nowhere to slide, it likely does not open.
   • Make sure that the window is not nailed or screwed shut for security or energy conservation reasons.
   • Make sure any locks are disengaged.
   • Look to see if the window frame has been recently painted.
   • Decide which direction the window is supposed to open: up, outward or sideways.
2. Loosen any paint that is sealing the window shut. Removing dried paint that collected between the window and frame will free the window and allow it to be opened.^[1]
   
   • Use a razor knife to cut along the edge of the window and the frame. Cut across all four sides of the window. You may need to check the exterior of the window in addition to the inside to make sure that it isn’t painted shut on both sides.
3. Insert a putty knife between the window and the frame. Wriggle the knife back and forth to loosen any dried paint between the window and the frame. Go around the entire edge of the window to loosen all sides.^[2]
   
4. Hammer the edge of the window to break the seal created by paint. Use a wood block to cushion the blows from the hammer and prevent making dents in the wood of the window. Be careful to hit gently so as not to break the window. Hammer the wood portion of the window and not the glass.
   
5. Push on the window with your hands. Try to loosen the window one side at a time.
   
   • Push each corner to see if there is any movement.
   • Press on the window gently to open it a little at a time.
6. Force the window up with a pry bar. Place a small block of wood on the window frame to give your pry bar more leverage. Gently force the window up with the pry bar.
   
   • Reposition the pry bar along the bottom edge of the window to lift both sides of the window.
   • Using a pry bar may damage the wood of the window or window frame, use this method very carefully as a last resort.

EditLubricating a Stuck Window

1. Rub the end of a candle along the channel where the window opens. Spread wax from the bottom of a candle into the window channel. The wax will help allow the window to slide up and down and prevent future sticking.^[3]
   
2. Remove moisture from the window frame. Wood may swell due to humidity causing windows to become stuck. Drying out the wood may help the window open more easily.^[4]
   
   • Run a hair dryer along the edges of the window frame for several minutes. After drying the wood, try opening the window.
   • Place a dehumidifier in a room with stuck windows. Lowering the humidity in the room should help reduce the swelling of the window frames.
3. Use a wood block and hammer to widen the window channel. If the window is in a wooden frame, place a wood block along the channel where the window opens and hammer it gently to depress the wood. Make the channel wider to allow the window to move more freely.
   
4. Spray a lubricant such as WD-40 along the edge of the window. Be careful when using spray lubricants as they may discolor some surfaces or damage some types of paint.
   
   • If the window opens outward on hinges, spray the hinges with the lubricant for smoother operation.
5. Open the window repeatedly. After you get the window to open one time, open and close it several times to loosen the action of the window. If it still sticks, check the frame to ensure that it isn’t warped or damaged from water.
   
   • Window frames with severe water damage may need to be replaced entirely.

EditRemoving a Window Sash

1. Remove the window stops. The stop is a small piece of trim in the window frame that holds the movable sash in place. Examine the stop to determine how it is attached to the window frame.^[5]
   
   • Use a utility knife to remove any paint that is sealing the stop to the window frame.
   • Remove any screws that are holding the sash in place.
   • Gently pry the stop out using a flathead screwdriver or paint scraper.
   • Be careful when removing the stops as they can snap easily. You may need to purchase a replacement stop to reinstall the window.
2. Unscrew any hardware on the sash. Remove the locks or latches used to close the window. Check for any additional hardware from curtains or other additions that may be attached to the window sash or frame.
   
3. Tilt the top of the bottom section of the window inward. Remove the bottom sash first by leaning it in to the inside of the house. As you lean it inward, pay attention to the ropes connecting the window to the pulley inside the frame.^[6]
   
   • Remove the rope from one side of the window by pulling the knot down and out from the side of the window sash.
   • Remove the other rope from the other side in the same manner.
4. Smooth the edges of the sash. Once the sash is removed, sand the edges to remove any paint or swollen wood causing the window to stick. Make sure to sand evenly to avoid creating additional bumps or uneven surfaces which may cause additional sticking issues.
   
5. Remove the upper sash. In double hung windows the upper sash can be removed as well. Remove any paint that is sealing the window shut to be able to move the sash.^[7]
   
   • Use a razor knife to cut around the edges of the window.
   • Slide the upper sash down to reveal the pulleys in the side of the window jamb.
   • Pull the right side of the window in to free it from the jamb.
   • Remove the rope connecting the sash to the pulley inside the window frame and jamb.
   • Pull the left side of the window out and remove the rope.
6. Sand the edges of the upper sash. Check the edges of the sash for any paint or warped wood. Sand the sash smooth to allow for better operation.
   
7. Sand the track inside the window frame. Remove any dried paint that has built up along the window sash with a scraper and sand the track smooth.
   
8. Replace the window sashes. Reverse the steps used to remove the window sashes to put them back in place.
   
   • Attach the ropes to the upper sash and slip it in place one side at a time.
   • Attach the ropes to the lower sash and place the bottom half in first. Push the upper half in place.
   • Slide the window stop back in place and attach it with screws or finish nails.

EditVideo

EditTips

• Work slowly and carefully rather than applying a lot of force quickly.
• If you can’t get a pry bar between the window bottom and the frame put two small screws in the frame near the bottom of each corner, leaving the head of the screw sticking out a bit. Use these to put the pry bar under and pry up on. This can damage the frame a bit.
• There is a special paint removal tool for windows called a window zipper, which you can buy in hardware stores. It may damage the paint on the nearby frame and windowsill but is a good option if there are multiple stuck windows.
• A cooking spatula or butter knife with a stiff metal blade can be used in place of a putty knife.

EditWarnings

• Wear work gloves and safety goggles when trying to force open windows as the glass may break.
• If a house has settled a lot, or there has been damage from a storm or other disaster the window frame may be too warped to be able to open the window safely. The whole window may need to be removed and the frame repaired or replaced.
• Getting one corner of a window too much higher than the other when forcing open a window will probably result in cracking the window glass.

EditThings You’ll Need

• Thin blade putty knife
• Thin pry bar
• Hammer
• Wood scraps
• Work gloves
• Safety goggles

EditRelated wikiHows

• Loosen Stuck Wooden Window Frames
• Unstick a Door
• Remove a Glass Stuck Inside Another Glass (Vaseline Method)
• Remove Storm Door Windows and Screens

EditSources and Citations

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How to Reduce a Fever

Having a fever is a common symptom of viruses, infections, sunburn, heat-stroke, or even prescription medication.^[1] The body's temperature rises as a natural defense against infection and disease. An area of the brain called the hypothalamus regulates body temperature, which fluctuates throughout the day from the normal level of by a degree or two. A fever is most commonly defined as a rise in body temperature above the normal body temperature of .^[2] While a fever is a natural process that can help your body heal, there are situations in which you may wish to ease the discomfort that fevers bring or even visit a doctor.

EditSteps

EditReducing Fever with Medicine

1. Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen. These drugs are available for purchase over the counter and effectively reduce fevers temporarily.^[3] They can help both children and adults feel more comfortable as their bodies heal.
   
   • Consult a doctor or pharmacist before administering (child- or baby- formulated) medication to any child under the age of two, and never give ibuprofen to a baby under six months of age.^[4]
   • Do not take more than the recommended dosage. Pay special attention to the dosage you give to children. Don't place medicine bottles within reach of children, since ingestion of more than the recommended dosage can be dangerous.
   • Take acetaminophen every 4 to 6 hours, but do not exceed the recommended dosage on the package.^[5]
   • Take ibuprofen every 6 to 8 hours, but do not exceed the recommended dosage on the package.^[6]
2. Avoid combining medications for children. Don't give children more than one over-the-counter medicine at the same time for treatment of other symptoms. If you give your child a dose of acetaminophen or ibuprofen, do not also give them cough medicine or any other type of other medicine without consulting your doctor first. Certain medicines interact with each other in ways that can harm your child's health.^[7]
   
   • For infants over 6 months, children, and adults, alternating between acetaminophen and ibuprofen is safe. Usual dosages are acetaminophen every 4-6 hours and ibuprofen every 6-8 hours, depending on the dose.
3. Take aspirin only if you are over 18.^[8] Aspirin is an effective fever reducer for adults, as long as you take only the recommended dosage. Never give adult aspirin to children, since it can cause Reye's syndrome, a potentially fatal disorder.^[9]
   

EditAlleviating Fever Symptoms with Home Remedies

1. Drink plenty of fluids. Keeping your body hydrated is important during a fever, since the increased body temperature can cause dehydration.^[10] Drinking water and other fluids helps your body expel the virus or bacteria that's causing the fever. However, you should avoid caffeine and alcohol because these can lead to further dehydration.
   
   • Green tea may help reduce a fever and boost your immune system.^[11]
   • If you are experiencing nausea or vomiting along with the fever, avoid fruit juices, milk, very sugary beverages and carbonated beverages. These drinks can make you feel sick or cause vomiting.^[12]
   • Try replacing solid food with soup or broth to help rehydrate your body (but watch the salt content). Popsicles are also a great way to consume fluids that will also help cool your body down.
   • If you have been vomiting, you may have an electrolyte imbalance. Drink an oral rehydration solution or a sports drink with electrolytes.^[13][14]
   • Children under age one who do not regularly consume breast milk or who are on a nursing strike during an illness should take a rehydration solution containing electrolytes, such as Pedialyte, to make sure they're getting the nutrients they need.^[15]
2. Rest as much as possible. Sleep is the body's natural method for recovery from illness; in fact, having too little sleep can even make you sick.^[16] Trying to fight through and keep going may even raise your body’s temperature.^[17] By making sure you get plenty of sleep you allow your body to spend its energy fighting infection instead of something else.
   
   • Take the day off of work, or if your child is sick, have him or her stay home from school. The extra sleep your child will get is a sure way to a quicker recovery, and the source of the fever might be contagious, so it’s best to keep her home. Many fevers are caused by viruses that remain highly contagious as long as the fever is present.^[18]
3. Wear light, breathable clothing. Don't cover yourself or your child with blankets and layers of clothing. You may feel chilled, but your body's temperature won't be able to start dropping if you're covered with warm blankets or clothes. Dress yourself or your child in a thin but cozy set of pajamas.^[19]
   
   • Do not try to “sweat out” the fever by bundling up a feverish person.
4. Eat food as usual. Even though the old expression says “starve a fever,” that is not good advice. Continue to nourish your body with healthy foods for a quicker recovery. The old standby chicken soup is a good choice, because it contains vegetables and protein.^[20]
   
   • If you don’t have much of an appetite, try replacing solid food with soup or broth to help rehydrate your body.
   • Eat foods with a high water content, such as watermelon, to help you stay hydrated.^[21]
   • If you have nausea or vomiting with your fever, try to stick to bland foods such as saltine crackers or applesauce.^[22]
5. Try herbal remedies. Some herbal remedies may help reduce a fever or support your body’s immune system as it fights whatever is causing the fever. However, herbal and natural remedies can interfere with medications and other medical conditions, so you should consult with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any.^[23]
   
   • Andrographis paniculata is widely used in traditional Chinese Medicine to treat colds, sore throats, and fevers. Use 6 g a day for 7 days. Do not use andrographis if you have gallbladder or an autoimmune disease, are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, or take blood pressure or blood thinning medications such as warfarin.
   • Yarrow may help reduce fevers by encouraging sweating. If you have ragweed or daisy allergies, you may experience an allergic reaction to yarrow. Do not take yarrow if you also take blood thinning or blood pressure medications, lithium, stomach acid reducers, or anticonvulsants. Children and pregnant women should not use yarrow. You may find that adding yarrow tincture to a warm (not hot) bath helps reduce fever.^[24][25]
   • Despite its name, feverfew doesn’t actually work very well to reduce fevers.^[26]
6. Take a lukewarm bath. Drawing a lukewarm bath, or a relaxing shower, is an easy and comfortable way to reduce a fever. A lukewarm or room temperature dip is usually just the right temperature to cool your body without throwing off your equilibrium. It can be particularly helpful right after taking fever medication.^[27]
   
   • Do not give yourself or your child a hot bath. You should also avoid cold baths, which can lead to shivering that can actually increase internal temperature. If you do want to have a bath, the only appropriate temperature is lukewarm, or just above room temperature.^[28]
   • If your child has a fever, you can bathe him or her with a sponge dipped in lukewarm water. Gently wash your child's body, pat him or her dry with a soft towel, and dress your child quickly so he or she doesn't get too chilled, which can lead to shivering, which heats up the body.
7. Never use rubbing alcohol to reduce a fever. Rubbing alcohol baths are an old remedy people used to use to bring fevers down, but they cause the body temperature to drop dangerously quickly.^[29][30]
   
   • Rubbing alcohol can also lead to coma if consumed, so it is not appropriate for use or storage around small children.^[31]

EditTaking a Temperature Reading

1. Select a thermometer. There are several different types of thermometers, including digital and glass (mercury) models.^[32] The most common way to take a temperature for an older child or an adult is to place a digital or glass thermometer underneath your tongue to measure your body’s heat, but there are several other thermometers that use alternate methods for temperature taking.
   
   • Digital thermometers can be used orally or rectally (see below) or under the armpit (though this reduces the accuracy of the reading. The thermometer will beep when the reading is complete, and the temperature displays on a screen.
   • Tympanic thermometers are used inside the ear canal, and they measure temperature with an infrared light. The downside to this style of thermometer is that a buildup of earwax or the shape of an ear canal can skew the accuracy of the reading.
   • Temporal thermometers use an infrared light to measure the temperature. These thermometers are great because they are quick and least invasive. To use this type of thermometer, you slide the thermometer from the forehead to the temporal artery, right above the top of the cheekbone. It can be difficult to master proper placement, but taking several readings can improve the accuracy of the reading.
   • Pacifier thermometers can be used for babies. These are similar to oral digital thermometers, but perfect for babies who use pacifiers. The peak reading is displayed when the temperature is measured.
2. Check your temperature. After selecting a thermometer, take your temperature according to the method that the thermometer is made for (either orally, in the ear, on the temporal artery, or rectally for a child (see below). If you have a fever above ,^[33] you have a baby over 3 months with a fever over , or you have a newborn (0-3 months) with a fever over 100.4, call the doctor immediately.^[34]
   
3. Take a young child’s temperature rectally. The most accurate way to take a child’s temperature is through her rectum, but you should use extreme caution so that you do not perforate the child’s bowel. The best thermometer for rectal temperatures is a digital thermometer.
   
   • Place a small amount of petroleum jelly or ky jelly on the thermometer probe.
   • Lay your child on her stomach. Get another person to help if necessary.
   • Carefully insert the probe one-half inch to one inch into the anus.
   • Hold the thermometer and child still for about one minute, until you hear a beep. Do not let go of your child or the thermometer to avoid injury.
   • Remove the thermometer and interpret the reading on the screen.
4. Let the fever run its course. If the fever is relatively low grade (up to 102 degrees for an adult or a child over 6 months), reducing it entirely is not necessarily recommended. Fevers are produced by the body as a sign that there's another issue going on, so making it go away can mask a deeper problem.
   
   • Aggressively treating a fever can also interfere with your body's natural method of getting rid of a virus or infection. A lower body temperature might produce a more habitable environment for foreign bodies, so it can be better to let the fever run its course.^[35]
   • Letting the fever run its course is not recommended for individuals who are immunocompromised, taking chemotherapy drugs, or who have had a surgery recently.^[36]
   • Instead of trying to get rid of the fever, take measures to make you or your child more comfortable during the course of the fever, such as rest, drinking fluids, and staying cool.^[37]

EditKnowing When to Go to the Doctor

1. Recognize the symptoms of a fever. Not everyone’s normal body temperature is exactly . A variation from your normal body temperature of a degree or two is normal.^[38] Even a mild fever is usually not cause for concern.^[39] The symptoms of a mild fever include:
   
   • Discomfort, feeling too warm
   • General weakness
   • Warm body
   • Shivering
   • Sweating
   • Depending on the cause of the fever, you may also see any of the following symptoms: headache, muscle aches, loss of appetite, or dehydration.
2. Call the doctor if the fever is high.^[40] Adults should go to the doctor with a fever higher than . Children's bodies are more sensitive to the effects of fevers than adults’ bodies are. Call the doctor in the following cases:^[41]
   
   • You have an infant under three months old with a fever over
   • You have a baby three to six months old with a fever greater than .
   • You have a child of any age with a fever greater than
   • You or another adult have a fever of or higher, particularly in conjunction with excessive drowsiness or irritability.
3. Call the doctor if the fever lasts more than a few days. A fever that lasts more than two or three days may be a sign of a deeper problem that needs to be treated separately. Don't try to diagnose yourself or your child; go to the doctor to get it checked out. You should see the doctor if:^[42][43]
   
   • The fever stays longer than 24 hours in a child under 2
   • The fever stays for 72 hours (3 days) in any child over 2
   • The fever persists past 3 days in an adult
4. Know when to seek immediate medical attention. If the fever is accompanied by symptoms that indicate other problems, or when the person with the fever has extenuating circumstances, you need to contact a doctor, regardless of how high the fever is. Here are some circumstances in which you should seek immediate medical attention:^[44][45]
   
   • The person has difficulty breathing
   • A rash or spots develop on the person’s skin
   • The person exhibits listlessness or delirium
   • The person has unusual sensitivity to bright lights
   • The person has any other chronic condition such as diabetes, cancer or HIV
   • The person has recently traveled to another country
   • The fever has resulted from an overly hot environment such as being outside in extreme heat or being in an overheated vehicle
   • The person with the fever complains of other symptoms like sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, ear pain, rash, headache, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, trouble breathing, confusion, neck pain, or pain with urination
   • The fever is lowered, but the person is still acting sick
   • If the person has a seizure, call 911

EditWarnings

• Always consult a physician before administering medication to a child under the age of two.
• Be aware of up-to-date dosing recommendations. For example, infant acetaminophen bottle concentrations have recently been changed to a less concentrated dose (80 mg/0.8 mL to 160 mg/5 mL).

EditRelated wikiHows

• Treat a Fever
• Fight a Flu Naturally
• Use Alcohol to Treat a Cold
• Check a Fever Without a Thermometer

EditSources and Citations

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