FAQs

What is a fever & is it harmful?

A fever occurs when the body’s temperature is higher than normal, usually a symptom of some type of infection. A temperature of 100.5 rectally (99.5 under the arm or 100.5 orally) is considered a low grade fever. A fever shows you that your child’s immune system is working to fight an infection and in most cases is not harmful.

My infant has a fever, does she need to be seen?

What other signs should I look for if a fever develops?

Sometimes when a fever develops, no other signs or symptoms appear right away. The fever should be treated with an appropriate fever reducer for the child’s age, tepid bathing for higher temperatures (over 102 rectally), cool clothing and lots of fluids. This will only reduce the fever for the duration of the fever reducer (4 to 8 hours), it will not “break” the fever. The fever will return until the body has rid itself of the infection and these steps may need to be repeated.

Other symptoms to watch for:

• Severe or consistent sore throat with fever
• Breathing heavy or labored breathing
• Vomiting frequently with fever
• Pain with urination with fever
• Stiff neck or neck pain with fever
• Severe headache with fever
• Rash (especially purple in color) with fever
• If fever develops after having other symptoms for 2-3 days

In the above cases, call our office or after hours nursing line to assist you with steps for further treatment.

Children’s Medical Center has a team of nurses at night available to assist parents with emergency or urgent medical problems. Nurses are available weekdays (Monday through Friday) from 7pm to 8am and weekends from 5pm to 8am. If you have an urgent situation, simply call the Greenville location at (864) 288-5402 and leave your child’s name, date of birth, nature of the problem, and a phone number where you can be reached and the nurse on duty will return your call. If the call has not been returned within 30 minutes, please leave a second message. The nurse on call will discuss your child’s symptoms with you and assist you with steps for further treatment. Triage nurses are unable to make or cancel appointments or call in prescriptions.

My child has been on antibiotics for his infection for 24 hours, why isn’t he better?

Antibiotics need time to work and you may need to give it for 48-72 hours better an improvement is seen in your child’s condition. Symptomatic treatment as discussed with your doctor at the appointment (fluids, fever reducers, etc.) should be initiated until the antibiotics have a chance to start working. If fever persists beyond 72 hours of treatment or symptoms do not start to improve after that time, parents should contact the office for further direction in their child’s care.

If my child has had a fever and has been sick, when can she go back to school?

A good rule of thumb is to remember that your child should remain out of school until they have been fever free for 24 hours and feel well enough to participate in their regular activities.

I am on vacation and my child is sick. What should I do?

Illness can occur at any time and it’s always best to be prepared. It’s a good idea to take a thermometer and basic fever reducers appropriate for your child’s age when traveling. If your child develops an illness, you are welcome to call our office or after hours nurse line to discuss the symptoms. If you feel the child needs to be seen by a physician, contact the closest Emergency Room or pediatrician’s office for an appointment to have your child evaluated. Your child always should be seen to properly evaluate the illness.

Poison Control: Palmetto Poison Control - 1-800.222.1222

Influenza and Vaccines: http://vaccine.chop.edu

The material provided on this website is for informative purposes only.  For specific medical advice, please contact a Children’s Medical Center office.