What should I do if I get a call from the nursery school because my child has a fever?

Getting a call from preschool to tell you your child has a fever is one of those situations every parent experiences sooner or later. Suddenly, you have to stop what you're doing, change plans, and often skip work to attend to what should be one of your first priorities: caring for your child when they're sick.

In this post, we'll tell you what you should do step by step so that, as much as possible, both you and your child can overcome this setback in the best possible way. We'll review what to do, what not to do, and when to consult your pediatrician.

Step 1: Go pick up the child

The first and most important thing, although it may seem obvious, is to go to the nursery school to pick up your child. A child with a fever should not stay there, both for their well-being and because of the risk of infecting other classmates.

You don't have to rush it, like I'll get in the car and be there in 10 minutes, like Mr. Wolf in Pulp Fiction. We don't want a traffic accident because the child has a slight fever, but it does seem reasonable that you go and pick up your child as soon as you can.

If you can't, try to have a family member take charge of the situation, like grandparents (oh, what would we do without them) or an uncle.

Step 2: Observe at home how the child is feeling

After picking up the child, it's best to go home and monitor their condition for the next few hours. Fever is only a symptom, and the child's overall condition is what truly indicates the severity of the condition.

If the child is feeling unwell (irritable, fussy, refuses to eat, etc.), we can give them an antipyretic (paracetamol or ibuprofen), if they haven't already been given one at nursery school to improve their comfort. It doesn't matter if the thermometer reads 37.5°C or 40°C: what matters is how they feel. If they are well, medication isn't mandatory, and if they are feeling unwell, they can be given an antipyretic even if their fever hasn't risen above 38°C.

At this point, it's worth remembering something important: in a child with a fever that lasts a couple of hours without any other symptoms, it's impossible to know what a child has. And when I say "a couple," I also mean 8-12 hours... Pediatricians don't have a crystal ball with which to see the future, so if a child develops a fever (whether at school or at home), you don't need to go to the pediatrician immediately unless they have some warning signs, as we'll see later. If, out of fear or ignorance, you end up rushing to the health center, your pediatrician will most likely tell you that they don't see anything abnormal in your child, that you should wait a couple of days, and that it's most likely a virus that will clear up on its own with a little patience.

Step 3: Watch for warning signs

Although most childhood fevers are due to mild, self-limiting infections, there are situations in which it is advisable to see a doctor immediately:

As you can see, these warning signs do not refer to the degree of fever or how long the child has had it.

Step 4: When to see a pediatrician if it's not urgent

If the child's fever persists for more than 48-72 hours, it is advisable to make an appointment with the pediatrician to check that everything is still in order.

Sometimes we still don't know where the fever is coming from, and in most cases, the child will have already identified a cause that could indicate a cold, gastroenteritis, or tonsillitis.

In any case, while you wait for your appointment with your pediatrician, if your child feels unwell, you can give them antithetic for 2-3 days without any problem.

And as I said, if there are any warning signs, go to the Emergency Room so the child can be assessed immediately.

Step 5: And when to return to preschool?

A child with a fever should stay home. until at least 24 hours have passed without fever and without the need for antipyretics. This is important for two reasons:

In summary...

Your child having a fever at preschool is normal and very common. The key is to monitor your child's condition, provide treatment if needed, watch for warning signs, and be patient: in most cases, the source of the fever won't be known until a couple of days have passed, but it's not necessary for your pediatrician to examine your child immediately after the fever begins.