-
- Knowledgebase: Fever Questions
- Answers to Questions about fevers.
- 1. When should a child with a high fever see a doctor? - Top
- Question: My son has had a fever since Wed. I have been giving him children's Motrin this morning his fever got to 104.6 he's complaining of dizziness & shivers alot should I be worried enough to take him to a doctor?
Answer: It is important to remember that fever is a symptom, not a diagnosis. A child can have a high fever, chills, and perhaps feel dizzy from a relatively harmless viral illness. Likewise, a child may have a very dangerous infection and have little or no fever.
In general, the child's appearance (activity, eating pattern, playfulness) is more important than how high the fever is or whether it is difficult to get the fever to come down to normal.
Children with fevers past five days should see a doctor, as should those with specific symptoms such as sore throat, productive cough, or persistent vomiting. Children with high risk medical conditions may need to contact their doctor with ANY fever, such as those with low white blood cell counts or immune deficiencies.
- Updated: May 13, 2001
[e-Mail me the Knowledgebase]- [Search our Knowledgebase] - [Question Not Answered?]
- Knowledgebase: Fever Questions
James L Horwitz, MD
David C. Thomas, MD
Barbara Lindberg, PNP