When Does Your Child Need to Be Seen for a Fever?
Saturday, August 15th, 2020, 1:12 am
As a new parent, it can be easy to get excited over every little thing that your baby does. And just as you squeal at every coo, it’s easy to get carried away when your baby doesn’t feel well. Not every fever is cause for alarm, and not every cough needs to be addressed by a physician.
So when should you take your child to the doctor for a fever? It really depends on what else is going on.
If your child has a fever and no other symptoms, it could be several things that could resolve on their own. These include possibilities like:
- A mild viral or bacterial infection, easily handled by the body’s immune system
- Teething in infants, or molars and adult teeth coming in for older children
- Other body temperature fluctuations
As long as the fever resolves itself within 24 hours, or if other symptoms of a viral infection arise, you are probably in the clear. If the fever stays under control, and symptoms resolve on their own, your child will be fine.
However, there are some situations in which you really need to have your child seen by a doctor. If their fever is too high, or lasts over 24 hours without apparent cause, you should have them seen.
What is too high?
Your child is not considered to have a fever until their temperature reaches over 101.5. If the fever goes above 102.2, you should seek medical attention, especially if it doesn’t go down or stay down with motrin or tylenol.
If you are ever in doubt, err on the side of caution. We are always happy to see your little one for any of their needs, even if it turns out to be a false alarm. Call us today for your appointment or walk in.
Category: Infections