Vomiting, Age 3 and Younger
When To See a Doctor
You have answered Yes to:
Does your child have vomiting and a fever?
See significance of vomiting and a fever if you need information to help you answer the questions below.
Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your child's symptoms.
Note:
- All temperature guidelines listed in this topic are armpit (axillary) temperatures. A child has a fever when his or her temperature is 37.4°C (99.3°F) or higher, measured in the armpit (axillary).
- For information about taking accurate temperatures in babies and children, see the topic Body Temperature. If you are unable to measure your child's temperature, look for other symptoms and answer the questions below.
- Be sure to try home treatment when your child has a fever. Sometimes home treatment is all that is needed to help lower your child's fever and help your child feel better.
Call your child's health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Does your baby younger than 3 months old have an axillary temperature of 37.4°C (99.3°F) or higher?
Yes Do you think your baby younger than 3 months old has a fever, but you are unable to measure his or her temperature?
Yes Does your child older than 3 months of age have an axillary temperature of 39.5°C (103°F) or higher?
Yes Do you think your child has a high fever but you are unable to measure your child's temperature?
Yes Does your child have an axillary temperature of 39°C (102.2°F) to 39.5°C (103°F) that has not come down after 4 to 6 hours of home treatment and medicine.
Call your child's health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Has your child older than 3 months of age had an axillary temperature of 38°C (100°F) to 39°C (102°F) for 12 hours or longer?
Yes Do you think your child has a high fever after 12 hours of home treatment and medicine but you are not able to measure his or her temperature?
You may wait to see if your child's symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.
Yes Does your child still have an axillary temperature of 37°C (99°F) to 38°C (100°F) after 24 to 48 hours of home treatment?
Yes Do you think your child has had a mild fever for 24 hours or longer but you are unable to measure your child's temperature?
If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: August 28, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics | |
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