Fever, Infection, and Visiting the Emergency Department
Children with cancer are more at risk for infections. The risk is even greater if your child has low neutrophil counts. You should know the early signs of infection.
Fever is one of the most reliable signs of infection. If your child has a fever, he/she needs medical care right away. Check your child’s temperature any time he/she is warm to the touch, shivering, or is just not feeling well.
Call if Your Child’s Temperature is:
- At or above 101° F or 38.3° C once
- 100.4 to 100.9° F 2 times at least 1 hour apart in 24 hours
When you call, you will be asked to go to the closest emergency department to be seen. The doctor will call that emergency department to tell them:
- Your child will be coming
- Labs to check
- Antibiotics to give
Put on EMLA/LMX cream before you leave home if your child has a port. It will most likely need to be accessed.
Your child may need to be admitted to the hospital to keep getting antibiotics.
Never give your child Tylenol® for a fever unless instructed by your child’s doctor.
Immunizations and Exposure
Talk with your child’s doctor about immunizations. They will be given per current guidelines.
Brothers and sisters should get all their immunizations. All family and friends who will be near your child should get a flu shot.
Call your pediatric hematology/oncology doctor right away if your child:
- Is exposed to chicken pox, shingles, measles, mumps, rubella, or hepatitis
- Has chicken pox, shingles, or cold sores