On and off Low Grade Fever

My 4 year old son has had a lot of fevers since starting preschool in August. I give him Tylenol until its over with. His body is fighting something. He usually doesn't have any other symptoms with the fever so I don't take him to the pediatrician. I just wait it out. Call the doctor if you are worried.

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My 4 year old son has had a lot of fevers since starting preschool in August. I give him Tylenol until its over with. His body is fighting something. He usually doesn't have any other symptoms with the fever so I don't take him to the pediatrician. I just wait it out. Call the doctor if you are worried.

Call your pediatrician's office - someone answers that phone 24/7 and either the doctor or a nurse will call you back even if it's after hours. They understand that parents have questions and need advice or reassurance. Surely you have used this line at some point in the past 5 years, right? It's okay to use it for something that seems minor.

They will want to know what you mean by "low grade", what other symptoms he has, what you have done so far (if anything), and what to do going forward. You need to find out whether you can send your child to school - and I suspect that decision will be made on Sunday night, not today. Please don't send a sick child to school - the child gets worse, and everyone else gets sick too.

But you're not there yet. And none of us can tell you what's causing this, or how long it will last. If your child gets worse over the weekend, you can go to any urgent care center (please, do not go to the Emergency Room!) - you can google "urgent care centers" and put in your zip code. But that may not be necessary - call the doctor first.

What do you mean by "low grade"?

If it's below 100.4 then it's not technically a fever -- our body temperature fluctuates throughout the day. In other words, unless it's 100.4 or higher, the school should not send him home.

How would we know? Take him to see a doctor.

BTW In my years of experience several doctors have said that a low grade fever from time to time is normal. Doctors consider any temperature below 100° normal. A temperature below 102° or so can indicate an illness; however the illness is likely to not be serious. What is your son's temperature.

What are your children's school's rules concerning keeping a child out of school? Why are you fearful?

Our bodies vary in many ways. No one ever has a consistent 98.7° temperature. We are made of living flesh. That means that our body fluctuates everyday.

Thank you for your question, E.. Just as a reminder per Mamapedia Guidelines: Medical questions may be asked, HOWEVER, please know that the first and best source for the answers to all such questions will alway be an appropriate certified professional. Please always consult such a professional in these matters first and foremost. Simply put, Mamapedia does not offer medical advice to our members. Any medical advice you receive on the site is taken at your own risk.
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When mine are coming down with something, or fighting a something off, they can have a low grade fever. I alternate advil and tylenol as per dr's instructions.
In a few days, they either have become sick or have an infection - and I take them in if necessary. If it passes, then they were just fighting off a bug.

Unless my kids are lethargic, hurt, aren't acting themselves, or constantly complaining - I don't tend to take them in. If ever in doubt though, or if the fever is high, then I do.

What I would do in your case - call the dr's office and ask them what you should do.

Take him to doctor.

an intermittent low grade fever isn't something to be fazed over. sounds like his body is just fighting off a bug of some sort. make sure he's eating well and getting enough rest and carry on.
khairete
S.

Ask your pediatrician.
Could be tonsils or ear infection or any number of other things.

You should have him checked. Walking pneumonia can present with low grade fever.