How long with a fever before you head to the Dr?

[zarapipe]

DD has had a 99-100 degree fever for 3 days now. She also has a cough and runny nose. She is a little fussy but is otherwise fine. I wouldn't worry except that she has had a fever for quite a while now. She has ear tubes so I know its not an ear infection. When do you start to worry about a fever?

[Deleted]

I wouldn't go in for that.

But my line of what I would go in for is much higher than many. I don't even think you can call 99* a fever.

[dragonfly08]

At 100 degrees or less, in a kid over about 18 months old? I wouldn't even sweat it if the fever responds to meds. And unless I had other worries like dehydration, strep, or an ear infection, my ped probably wouldn't do more than advice alternating Tylenol and Motrin to make DD more comfortable and waiting it out.

[Deleted]

For a fever that low, probably at least 5 days if not a week before I would think to call the doc, especially if Motrin brings it down and she doesn't have any other non-cold-type symptoms like a rash, obvious sore throat, etc.

[knitty]

Aft three days I would, but only because I once did and the kid had pneumonia. Whoops. I don't medicate fevers, but if they're hanging around I have them looked at. My rule of thumb is that a cold-type illness should start getting better after a couple of days, and a fever should only be for a day or two at the beginning. Coughs and snot could go for weeks, but a fever late in a cold is worth having a doc look at them (see the aforementioned pneumonia).

[Willis Jackson]

That's not a fever. A fever is 100.4 or above.

[GailGoldie]

i agree- not even a fever unless it gets to 101+. And unless my kids are acting sick - even with a fever, if they don't appear to be in any pain or feeling bad - i don't take them to the doc.

viruses can last a week or so with a fever - and nothing can be done for them.

Do know that even with tubes a child CAN get an ear infection- but it doesn't sound like that's the problem (or she'd be in pain, and likely a higher fever)

[Deleted]

That isn't a fever, so I wouldn't be that concerned. It sounds like she just has a cold. As long as she's drinking reasonably well and doesn't seem lethargic, I'd let that go at least a week. She can get an ear infection with tubes, though, so if she were pulling at her ears or crying in pain, I may take her in earlier.

[Deleted]

I would wait it out yet.

I had a girlfriend call her pedi for a 99F "fever" after an hour last week. I made fun of her Kid was totally fine - I think he was just warm from playing in two-layers of clothing, LOL.