Respiratory Problems, Age 11 and Younger
When To See a Doctor
You have answered Yes to:
Does your child have a fever?
See significance of fever if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your child's symptoms.
Note: For information about taking accurate temperatures in babies and children, see the topic Body Temperature.
If your child has a fever with signs of a serious illness, go to the topic Fever, Age 3 and Younger or Fever, Age 4 and Older.
Call your child's health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Does your baby younger than age 3 months have a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher?
Yes Do you think your baby younger than age 3 months has a fever, but you are unable to measure his or her temperature?
Yes Does your child older than age 3 months have a temperature of 105°F (41°C) or higher?
Yes Do you think your child older than age 3 months has a high fever, but you are unable to measure his or her temperature?
Call your child's health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Does your child have a fever and a health risk that may put him or her at higher risk of having a serious problem?
Yes Does your child have a temperature higher than 102°F (39°C) that has not come down after 12 hours of home treatment and medicine?
Yes Do you think your child older than age 3 months has a moderate fever, but you are unable to measure his or her temperature?
Yes Does your child have a recurrent or ongoing fever without an obvious cause after traveling outside your own country in the last 6 weeks?
You may wait to see if your child's symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Does your child have a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher that has not come down after 24 hours of home treatment and medicine?
Yes Do you think your child has had a mild fever for 24 hours or longer, but you are unable to measure his or her temperature?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: February 25, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics | |
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