Pediatric Symptom Management Guide
Symptom Management Guide – Fever, Pediatric
- Proceed to the ER if your child:
- Is confused, lethargic or less responsive than normal
- Has severe headache associated with vomiting or stiff neck
- Has seizure activity
- Is having difficulty breathing
- Contact your child’s PCP if:
- You are unable to bring fever below 103 with tylenol or ibuprofen
- Your newborn (under 2 months of age) has a fever over 100.4
- Your child’s fever is lasting longer than 5 days
- Your infant/toddler has fewer than 4 wet diapers/day
- For mild symptoms, you should:
- Treat your child with acetaminophen (and/or ibuprofen in children >6 months of age)
- Encourage your child to increase fluid intake
Condition Management Guide – Asthma, Pediatric
- Proceed to the ER if your child:
- Is confused, drowsier or less alert than normal
- Is unable to continue normal activity (eating, playing) due to worsening difficulty breathing
- Has wheezing and breathing difficulty that continues/worsens despite use of rescue medications
- Contact your child’s PCP if he/she:
- Has a persistent daily nighttime cough
- Needs to use his/her rescue medication more than 2 days per week or more frequently than normal
- Has shortness of breath, wheezing or cough with exercise
- For mild symptoms, your child should:
- Take controller and rescue medications as prescribed
- Avoid exposure to cigarette smoke and other irritants
- Treat other triggers that may be contributing, such as allergies or URI symptoms