As a baby, Stacy DeBroff's daughter ran extraordinarily high temperatures when she was ill – often hovering between 104 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit. The Newton, Mass., mom practically glued the phone to her ear while talking to the pediatrician on call and watching out for any signs such as seizures.

Having an infant or toddler with a fever is, indeed, scary. The good news is that parents shouldn't be concerned about most fevers, says Dr. Marcus DeGraw, medical director of the Pediatric Subspecialty Services and Child Protection Team at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit, Mich. Any fever in a child 2 months or younger, however, should be reported to a physician, as this age is more susceptible to serious infections. A physical exam and laboratory samples may be needed to explore the fever further.

What's the classic definition of a fever, anyway? According to Dr. DeGraw, most pediatricians feel that any temperature, taken by any method, that is 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher is considered a fever. "Fever is a normal body function in most situations," says Dr. DeGraw. "It is one of the weapons your body uses to fight off infections and other body insults. Fever is a good sign that the body's ability to fight off infections is working properly."

When notifying your child's health care provider, Dr. DeGraw says not to add a degree as some people recommend. Simply tell the health care provider the number and method of taking the temperature.

In older children, parents should be more concerned with how the child is acting than how high the fever gets. Dr. DeGraw recommends seeking help or consultation if the child:

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