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NOTE: The following information was published May 20, 2020. For current COVID-19 information, visit LVHN.org/COVID-19.
Pediatric Partners is a recurring blog series written by pediatricians with Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital. Pediatrician Debra Carter, MD, discusses fever and children with COVID-19 infection.
As we learn more about the coronavirus (COVID-19) during this outbreak, we are gaining a better understanding of how this virus can affect children.
We recommend you contact your child’s doctor if any of these symptoms appear:
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Temperature greater than 100⁰ F*
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Abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting
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Skin rash or changes in skin color
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Difficulty breathing
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Chest pain
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Confusion
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Both eyes appearing red
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Weakness, significant fatigue or dizziness, or is too ill to eat or drink
*Typically, you don’t need to call your pediatrician if your child is older than 3 months old and has a fever under 104⁰ F for less than 3 days. But during the coronavirus pandemic, recommendations have changed.
In addition to calling your child’s doctor, you can help by:
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Encouraging your child to drink fluids.
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Using acetaminophen (Tylenol) as directed to lessen the fever, which often helps a child feel better. Ibuprofen also can be used.
For additional information, the American Academy of Pediatrics has a wonderful website for parents: healthychildren.org.
And please consider downloading our new (and free) PedsPartner app on your smartphone. PedsPartner includes a symptom checker and links to Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital locations and services, LVHN Find a Doctor physician directory and much more. Find it on the Google Play or Apple App Store.
About the author
Debra Carter, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician with LVPG Pediatrics, as well as Executive Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Affairs, at Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital; Assistant Medical Director, Pediatrics, Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG); and Medical Director, LVPG–Lehigh Valley. Dr. Carter believes it is important to form partnerships with parents of her patients to help provide kids with the best care possible.
Stay informed about coronavirus (COVID-19) in our community by visiting LVHN.org/COVID19.