Fever question - UPDATE

[noodleoo]

When do you take your kids in to the doctor for a fever?

Assume it is a mild temp (101) and responding to ibuprofen. Behavior-wise, they seems fine, a little tired but otherwise happily playing. How long do you wait before you take them in?

[starburst604]

I wouldn't right away, maybe I'd message the doctor's office after a few days and see if we should come in.

[beerlover]

Probably 3ish days before I would call or send a message saying "hey, this has been going on for x amount of days, at what point should we come in?"

We've been super lucky that the max DS is ever sick is like 2 days though.

[lessel]

Kinda depends... I have one kid like that and 9 times out of 10 it will be a raging ear infection that's relatively asymptomatic other than fever.

[daisyduck]

Probably 18-24 hours, but DD is 8 and has never had a fever for longer than that so it would be very unusual for her. I would COVID test at home first.

[fortnightlily]

Depends how old the kid is and if they have other clear symptoms of a virus. I'd probably give it 3 days. If I suspect antibiotics are needed then I'd call the nurse line. I very much don't feel the need to rush him in if there's a high chance they're not gonna do anything but tell me to manage symptoms with OTC meds and wait it out.

[Susie]

With no other symptoms, I'd give it a good 3+ days.  That is entirely in the realm of what my kids come down with and get over on their own.

Pretty much every time we've needed abx, there's been some other symptom besides fever that caused me to call:  ear pain, throat pain, Lyme bullseye rash, etc.

[wanderingback]

Knock on wood our 2 year old daughter hasn’t had a fever yet that I know of, but I would take her in if it was more than 3 days if otherwise acting fine.

[erbear]

I don't take my kids in for a fever without other symptoms unless it's been 4 days or it's very high (104+) and not coming down with meds. I'd call but my docs would say to monitor. Fever in itself isn't dangerous.

[penguingrrl]

With no symptoms and they’re acting fine I would wait a few days. SIL is a pediatrician and she’s far more worried about lethargy and noticeable symptoms than in a fever. If they missed a third day of school I would also take them 8n, but that’s because a doctor’s note is required then (which is such an inherently classist policy, but I can’t change the rule).

[nicolewi]

Online it says 4-5 days for kids. I usually go about 4ish and then call in your type of situation (meaning Unless they have other symptoms that could be ear infection, possible strep, bladder infection, anything alarming in general).

Literally just going through this right now. 11 year old came home from dance Thursday feeling sick; stayed home Friday with fever. Has had fever all weekend and up until now! Very sick Sunday, but Monday was doing great while on Motrin and I thought she would be at school Tuesday...but no. Every day I think she can go back to school, but she still has a fever (and now cough). Fever keeps coming back. Just took her in today and even though they aren't exactly sure what's up they prescribed Augmentin b/c they suspect she's brewing some pneumonia or bronchitis since her cough got way worse within the last 24 hours.

[mccallister84]

Our pediatrician is much more concerned about behavior than temperature. They do want to see them after 3 days of a fever.

[cricketwife]

I would take them in, but that comes from the privilege of having health insurance and also the knowledge that walking pneumonia going around in our area. My DS had it in August and we wasted a week because it was such a mild fever.

[calico]

After about 3 days I would think it’s more than a virus, usually it’s an ear infection or strep or something that needs to be checked out.

[joy]

Our pediatrician gives patients a whole fever bullet point so you kjow what to do. Normal viruses follow a pattern so as long as the viral pattern is there, then I wouldn’t go in.

If the fever is different then I would bring her in because it may be bacterial and need antibiotics.

If my kid was listless and uninterested in everything even on meds, then I’d bring her in.



EDiT - Viral fever patterns can last up to five days and will vary up and down during those days. But yes, the behavior during the fever is more telling than the number itself.

[noodleoo]

Thx, this is making me feel better. With experience with viruses when DD1 was little, we stopped going in right away and now wait 3-4 days. My kids tend to get fevers with viruses that linger and so many times I’d take them in, they’d test negative for everything and it was just wait and see. They both had the pneumonia in October and one of my friends was surprised we didn’t go in sooner.

DD2 is currently sick, day 3 of fever and I’m planning to take her in tomorrow just to be safe.

I also usually judge by behavior. She was fine and playing video games all day, I keep hoping the fever will break since she seems fine otherwise. I need a break, I am over this illness season already and it’s only mid November. 😭

[jorja]

72 hours

[noodleoo]

I'm so glad I took her in. It is pneumonia. I thought she had it in October but I guess that was something else.

[simpsongal]

Agree w/others - usually day 3 and largely b/c it probably means there's an ear infection (either the cause of the fever or the side effect of a nasty cold and clogged ears). Either way, ear drops please.

If I have lots of leftover drops, I'll just give them if the kid complains that an ear tug hurts. Both of my kids are swimmers - they put alcohol drops in their ears after every swim, but it still happens.

[shauni27]

noodleoo, oh dear, I am sorry to hear that. I have heard of so many people of all ages and in all parts of the country having pneumonia this fall! Like at least 5 people I know who were hospitalized.

I hope your daughter feels better soon!

[rhian]

Oh no! Hope she feels better soon! I've read that there are lots of pneumonia cases lately.

To answer the original question, I'd probably call the pediatrician again after 3ish days of a fever. Our pediatrician has told us they're more concerned about fevers that don't respond to meds, and/or fever combined with other symptoms, so I try not to worry too much about the number on the thermometer.

[tiki]

Glad you went in and got antibiotics! Until I saw your response, I was about to say I'd take a kid in before it's the weekend and you'd have to go to urgent care if it gets worse. All the pneumonia going around has really changed my take on fevers this year.

[redhead610]

My son was also dx with walking pneumonia today! So many cases of it going around.