Take to ped?

[Anonymous]

3 year old has mild fever (100 degrees by mouth) and is in good spirits except at bedtime, when she’s very stuffy and mopey. This has been going on for three days. Should I take to ped? I’m concerned about potential flu (for her but also me since I’m pregnant) but it just doesn’t seem like it’s that likely to be flu, given the relative mildness of her symptoms, and I don’t relish us going to the ped where there will definitely be patients with the flu in the waiting room. What would you do?

[Anonymous]

For me, this wouldn’t even rate on my “take to the doctor” radar at all. But, I guess we make sure everyone gets their flu shots in the house, and I know there’s not much else adoctor can do to threat the fluother than the usual respiratory bug comforts.

[Anonymous]

Don't take this as medical advice but my experience: we just went through an identical scenario a month ago. I'm also pregnant and dd is 3. We both had a low grade fever 100-barely 101 on an off for 3 days and tired and very very stuffy but no major aches or exhaustion. I went to my primary care dr (without dd and after 1.5 days of fever) and tested negative for the flu. Dr (who is also my kids dr- family practice) said that with the lower grade fever and no all out exhaustion it was pretty clear it wasn't the flu before the test. He also mentioned that if it was positive the only reason he'd even prescribe tamiflu to my dd is because she had an underlying heart condition (resolved in past) otherwise it would not be worth the side effects. We perry much stayed curled up on my bed with cartoons, books, tea, soup and toast for 3 days. Fever and most of the stuffiness went away after 4 days but I still felt tired by 2 pm for another couple days and came home from work early then.
This was the worst non flu sickness I've had in 10 years.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not. What do you even want to doctor to do? 100 isn't even a real fever. Even if your dd had the flu, you just wait it out and provide fluids.

Your dd is more likely to catch something from the doctor's office.

[Anonymous]

OP here - you’ve all convinced me. Thx for the reality check

[Anonymous]

No it just sounds like a cold. There's nothing they can do for a cold and you risk exposing your germs to others.

[Anonymous]

Anecdotally I've never heard anyone who legitimately had the flu wondering if it's the flu. If you're wondering- it's not. The flu is pretty incapacitating.